Native America Calling - The Electronic Talking Circle

Julian Brave Noisecat's re-established relationship with his estranged father is the jumping off point for recounting the lives of the author and his family. "We Survived The Night" is a story both unique and familiar that Noisecat delivers with a mix of journalism, memoir, and his Secwepemc people's traditional storytelling. Coming off the acclaim that includes an Oscar nomination for his documentary, "Sugarcane", Noisecat provides a deeper look into the personal experience, family lore, and neglected historical accounts that make up who he is.

Federal food assistance is set to stop November 1 if lawmakers are unable to solve the government shutdown. That means the supply of food through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to low-income Native Americans will begin running out without help from alternative sources. Some tribes are putting funds and other efforts toward filling the sudden gap. At least one tribe is culling their own buffalo herds to provide meat for hungry citizens. We'll get an overview of the situation for Native residents who rely on SNAP. We'll also hear about the lengths to which Alaska Native organizations are working to provide traditional foods to the people displaced by major storms on the state's west coast. GUESTS Carly Griffith-Hotvedt (Cherokee), executive director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative Lyle Rutherford (Blackfeet), Blackfeet Tribal Councilman Kelsey Ciugun Wallace (Yup'ik and Irish), president and CEO of the Alaska Native Heritage Center

A struggle over who is running the Northern Cheyenne tribal government has resulted in arrests of government officials, frozen bank accounts, and an emergency action by traditional tribal leaders to ban women from voting. The divide started after newly elected President Gene Small authorized a forensic financial audit. Another long-standing divide is coming to a head on the Navajo Nation, prompting President Buu Nygren to state he will not resign his position. We'll talk with reporters covering these two internal government disputes and take a look at some other notable issues and events.

A historic legal decision secures tribal land rights over a little more than four square miles within the boundaries of the city of Richmond, British Columbia. The ruling by the provincial Supreme Court sent shockwaves through an enclave of non-Indigenous property owners fearful their land and its monetary value would be handed over to the Cowichan Tribes. If the decision stands, it would have far-reaching implications for tribal land rights across Canada. We'll hear about the legal and historical significance of the decision. We'll also get perspectives on the controversial King Cove Road in Alaska. The Trump administration recently signed off on the proposed 11-mile road which will connect the small Aleutian town through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to an airport. Supporters say it will provide reliable access to emergency medical care, but detractors say it will cause harm to millions of migratory birds who use the refuge as a stopover. GUESTS Terry Teegee (Takla Nation),  Regional Chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Darwin Hanna (Nlaka'pamux Nation), attorney and founding partner of Callison & Hanna Edgar Tall Sr. (Yup'ik), Chief of the Native Village of Hooper Bay  Warren Wilson, mayor of King Cove

Henry is an aspiring ghost hunter on the cusp of social media fame in the novel, "The Whistler", by Nick Medina (Tunica-Biloxi). As the title suggests, he tempts fate by intentionally whistling into the night, provoking an evil entity that turns his life upside down and forces him to confront his past wrongdoing. Daniel H. Wilson (Cherokee) imagines a frightening alien invasion where first contact happens in the middle of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma in "Hole in the Sky". And Stephen Graham Jones (Blackfeet) slices open the real horrors of the late 1800s Indian Wars in "The Buffalo Hunter Hunter" with a tortured monster that wreaks vengeance on soldiers responsible for the Marias Massacre and the extermination of the buffalo. These are a few new horror novels written by Indigenous authors that we are putting on the Native Bookshelf for this year's spooky season.

Among the thousands of staff cuts and billions of dollars eliminated from federal programs is support to prevent and respond to domestic violence. Organizations that facilitate women's shelters, preventative outreach, case managers, and legal help are mostly going it alone without the once-powerful assistance of the federal government. Many are in survival mode after the sudden and unexpected elimination of funding that had been promised. The U.S. Department of Justice has also removed its access to research and recommendations about violence against Indigenous women. We'll find out how some shelters are working despite the setbacks. We'll also remember long-time women's advocate Charon Asetoyer. Among other things, she founded the Native American Community Board that works to strengthen women's health, safety, and justice. Asetoyer walked on September 26. GUESTS Desiree Tody (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Ashland and Bayfield County outreach program coordinator for the Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse Caroline LaPorte (Little River Band of Ottawa Indians descendant), staff attorney with the Indian Law Resource Center and association judge for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Michelle Sanchez-Higginbotham (Yaqui and Niitsitapi), project specialist for the Rising Together program at the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health Ronni Fischer (Yankton Sioux), director of the Women's Lodge, a violence prevention program of the Native American Community Board

Leonard Peltier calls on Native Americans to come together in the ongoing fight for many of the same issues he championed in the early days of the American Indian Movement. After President Joe Biden commuted his life sentence in the deaths of two FBI agents, Peltier emerged from nearly a half century in federal prison to a hero's welcome by his supporters and dismay by federal law enforcement officials and other detractors. In many respects, he picks up where he left off, speaking up for equitable treatment for Native people and defiance against a system he says is stacked against them. We'll hear from Peltier about his life now beyond a prison cell and also discuss the coordinated effort that finally secured his release.

Tribal officials are among those pushing back against President Donald Trump's plan to cut off some $500 million dollars in federal funds used for tribal housing, business development and infrastructure projects. The National Congress of American Indians calls the action by Trump related to the federal government shutdown “a critical threat to our communities' economic future.” Trump's intended elimination of the Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund is the latest blow from the government shutdown that could have series consequences for Native Nations. GUESTS Larry Wright Jr. (Ponca), executive director of the National Congress of American Indians and former chairman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Sherry Rupert (Paiute and Washoe), CEO of the American Indigenous Tourism Association Kim Pate (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Mississippi Band of Choctaw), NDN Fund Managing Director Dave Tovey (Cayuse/Joseph Band Nez Perce), Executive Director of Nixyáawii Community Financial Services (NCFS)

Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) predicts many of the more than 2,000 people uprooted by historically damaging storms may not be able to return to their villages for more than a year and a half. In at least one village, officials say 90% of the residences are destroyed – and, as their lives are suddenly and drastically changed, the mostly Alaska Native inhabitants of the hardest-hit areas face the possibility of increasingly severe weather as the climate changes. We'll get updates on the current efforts to provide relief and assess the long-term options for the people who have always lived there. We'll also hear about how a new influx of $15 million in federal money over the next five years will help the StrongHearts Native Helpline, which provides culturally specific outreach for Native domestic violence survivors. The money comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back and eliminating staff for many other social programs. GUESTS Walter Nelson (Yup'ik), managed retreat coordinator for Village of Napakiak Lori Jump (Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians), CEO of StrongHearts Native Helpline Taylar Sausen, director of communications for American Red Cross of Alaska Rick Thoman, Alaska climate specialist with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Eric Stone, state government reporter for Alaska Public Media

A new book is just one of multidisciplinary artist Cannupa Hanska Luger's (Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara and Lakota) many current creative projects. He's the 2025 artist-in-residence for Verbier 3-D Foundation, a contemporary art non-profit in Switzerland. He has new work that is part of an augmented reality exhibition with other Indigenous artists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing. He has a public sculpture installation at the University of Massachusetts Boston. And he designed a terrifying sports mascot costume for the Jordan Peele horror film, “Him.” His new hybrid art book and graphic novel, “Surviva: A Future Ancestral Field Guide,” is a creative take on the Indigenous knowledge necessary for survival in a post-colonial future. We'll hear from Luger about his creative drive and the message thread throughout all his acclaimed work.

It's been almost a full century since Ojibwe hockey player Taffy Abel first set foot on the ice as a New York Rangers defenseman. It was a historic moment that was not acknowledged at the time in the professional hockey world or even by Abel himself. At the time, he kept his Native American identity a secret — at first to escape the forced attendance at Indian Boarding Schools, then later to avoid the discrimination that could hinder his career. Now, his descendants want him recognized, after the fact, as the man who broke the pro hockey color barrier. Abel carried the American flag in the first Winter Olympics in 1924. He went on to help both the Rangers and the Chicago Blackhawks win Stanley Cup championships. GUESTS Aaron Payment (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), tribal councilman and former chairperson for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota), 1964 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Charles Fox, regular contributor to Indian Country Today and former staff photographer for 38 years at The Philadelphia Inquirer George Jones, retired economist and Indigenous hockey historian

The Trump administration just gave the final approval for a new 211-mile road that punches across the Brooks Mountain Range and the expansive wilderness that surrounds it. Ambler Road promises to clear the way for several mining operations, providing minerals like copper, cobalt and gold that President Trump says is needed to “win the AI arms race against China.” But at least 40 Alaska Native tribes have officially lined up against the controversial project citing subsistence hunting habitat among other concerns. We'll hear about that – and get an update on struggles over tribal control over hunting permits in Oklahoma. GUESTS April Monroe (Evansville Village). lands manager for Tanana Chiefs Conference Miles Cleveland Sr. (Iñupiaq), Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly Member Robert Gifford (Cherokee Nation), Native American Law attorney and tribal court judge Gary Batton (Choctaw Nation), Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Emily Schwing, investigative reporter in Alaska

The stories and written documentation on boarding schools, Indian Agents, and even the fictional character, Paul Bunyan, all have an influence on how we view history. The Western History Association Conference in Albuquerque, N.M., this week assembles a number of discussions led by Native American historians on those and other topics, gauging how well Native perspectives are taken into account. We'll hear from some of those historians about the changing influence of Native historical scholarship. GUESTS Vivien Tejada (Cherokee), assistant professor of history at University of California, Los Angeles Dr. Farina King (Diné), professor of Native American studies and Horizon Chair of NA ecology and culture at the University of Oklahoma Michael Holloman (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation), professor in the Department of Art at Washington State University

After an intensive two-year adult immersion program, the number of fluent Spokane Salish language speakers nearly doubled. Some of those program graduates will be hired on as full-time language teaching staff as the tribe expands its language revitalization efforts. And the Yuchi Tribe in Oklahoma has established a unique partnership with an Australian Aboriginal nation to exchange ideas for revitalizing both of their endangered languages. We'll hear about these two recent success stories. We'll also hear about a five-part talk show, "Rematriated Voices", centered on Haudenosaunee culture and principles. The first episode airs on Indigenous Peoples Day on New York PBS affiliate WCNY. GUESTS Sulustu Barry Moses (Spokane Tribe of Indians), program manager for adult fluency training and executive director of the Spokane Language House Richard Grounds (Yuchi and Seminole), executive director of the Yuchi Language Project Michelle Schenandoah (Oneida), founder and executive lead of Rematriation

In the Tara Moses play, “Haunted,” two Native ghosts are caught in a seemingly endless cycle of haunting the prospective owners of a house, while also being haunted in return by racist stereotypes. The Millennial siblings have a penchant for the soundtrack of their youth that leans heavily on Britney Spears. Along the way they find themselves on a journey to a higher calling. We'll hear from Moses about her work that comes to the stage in Los Angeles. We'll also hear from artists recognized with a $100,000 prize for the 2025 SHIFT – Transformative Change + Indigenous Arts Awards by the Native Arts + Culture Foundation for works that address social change through a Native lens. GUESTS Tara Moses (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and Muscogee), playwright and director Merna Wharton (Yup'ik), artist Demian DinéYazhi' (Diné), transdisciplinary artist, poet, and curator Brooke Pepion Swaney (Blackfeet Nation and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), filmmaker

An Indigenous anthropologist is embarking on a years-long process to document how Alaska Native hunters are changing their hunting patterns in the face of climate change. To complicate things, the war in Ukraine is preventing Native researchers from sharing information with their counterparts in Russia, which plays a role in the overall health of walrus herds. In addition to food and other uses, walrus ivory is a significant part of a traditional Native artform. We'll talk with Indigenous people who have a stake in Pacific walruses and are working to protect them. GUESTS Vera Metcalf (Yu'pik), director of the Eskimo Walrus Commission Eduard Kergytagyn Zdor (Chukchi), cultural anthropologist and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alaska's Arctic Leadership Initiative Leon Misak Kinneeveauk (Iñupiaq), artist and director of the Alaska Art Alliance

President Donald Trump and his administration abruptly ended billions of dollars in aid to foreign countries, calling it wasteful and inappropriately supporting a liberal agenda. In addition to food and medicine that went directly to Indigenous people who need it, the money and goods also promoted agriculture programs and other incentives toward preventing people with few other options from resorting to the illegal drug trade and other criminal activity that has significant bearing on American interest abroad. We'll hear about the direct effects of ending U.S. support of foreign countries as well as the long-term implications. GUESTS Sandra Lazarte (Quechua), former Indigenous Peoples and Climate advisor for U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Leonardo Crippa (Kolla), senior attorney at the Indian Law Resource Center Brian Keane, co-founder of Land is Life, former UN Permanent Forum rapporteur, and the first advisor on Indigenous Peoples' Issues for U.S. Foreign Assistance Andrew Miller, advocacy director for Amazon Watch

Sacred sites sometimes get lost in urban settings as cities prioritize the needs of non-Native residents and commercial interests over the historical and spiritual value for Native Americans, but tribes and Native organizations are having some success connecting with city officials to see that sacred spaces are protected and accessible. After years of restoration work, what were known as the Indian Mounds in St. Paul, Minn., have a whole new look, a new Dakota name — Wicaḣapi — and an educational cultural center. St. Louis, Mo. just solidified a transfer of property that signifies the city's first-ever recognition of tribal sovereignty. We'll talk about the difficult work to recognize and preserve sacred places in population centers. GUESTS Maggie Lorenz (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and Spirit Lake Dakota Nation), executive director of Waḳaŋ Típi Awaŋyaŋkapi Ke'eaumoku Kapu (Native Hawaiian), executive director of Nā ‘Aikāne o Maui and cultural specialist for Lahaina Town

Someone looking to move to any of the Native American reservations in Montana will have a hard time finding a home. A three-part series by the Montana Free Press finds there is a chronic shortage of housing on Native land caused by confusing land ownership frameworks, hurdles for conventional financing, and a lack of infrastructure. The government shutdown, funding cuts, and other changes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could only exacerbate the struggle Native people have for finding homes. Native people typically have the worst housing needs in the country. We'll hear about the problems facing Native homeowners and some of the innovative ways tribes are working to solve them.

Two Native American women from Oklahoma are carving distinct and inviting musical paths through the music world. Samantha Crain's seventh album, "Gumshoe", offers the latest installment in the veteran Choctaw singer-songwriter's musical evolution. The cover artwork—a photo of her own beadwork—is a clue to the roots she draws on for strength and inspiration. And Ken Pomeroy's debut album, "Cruel Joke", invokes a simmering depth of feeling that transcends her young age. She is a natural storyteller from the Cherokee Nation with a lot to say. Both of these creative artist are added to our Native Playlist.

Payments to tribes for federal contracts, BIA law enforcement, food distribution to schools, and health care access could all be affected by the federal government shutdown. It also has a significant effect on the 30,000 Native American federal employees and members of the military who may not be furloughed, but will not receive paychecks until the shutdown is over. This is the second government shutdown in the past decade; the previous one was the longest on record. We'll get the Native perspective on what's potentially in store as the shutdown progresses. GUESTS Aaron Payment (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), tribal councilman and former chairperson for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians A.C. Locklear (Lumbee), CEO of the National Indian Health Board Mike Stopp (Cherokee and Muscogee), president and CEO of SevenStar Holdings, LLC Sue Parton (Kiowa), President of the Federation of Indian Service Employees

Culture keepers and historians are closely watching President Donald Trump's review of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and other institutions to eliminate what he calls derisive or partisan narratives. It's among eight museums that receive federal funding are that are currently under review. NMAI's exhibits include Native American perspectives on historical documents and events that include treaties, Indian Boarding Schools, the Termination Era, the American Indian Movement, and the Indian Child Welfare Act, among many others. Those watching are concerned Trump's directive could permanently alter how those topics are presented to the public. NMAI also develops educational curricula that counters incomplete instruction on historical events, like Thanksgiving. We'll hear from those who were instrumental in NMAI's founding, as well as get perspective on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's announcement that soldiers that took part in the Wounded Knee Massacre would retain their Medals of Honor. GUESTS Dr. Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee), president of the Morning Star Institute, a founding trustee of NMAI, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Rick West Jr. (Cheyenne and Arapaho), CEO emeritus of the Autry Museum of the American West and founding director of NMAI OJ Semans Sr. (Rosebud Sioux), co-executive director of Four Directions Vote

For more than three decades, Tina Kuckkahn's work has centered on supporting Native culture and the arts. The Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe citizen is the new head of the Native artist non-profit organization, the First Peoples Fund. She previously directed s'gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ: House of Welcome (The Evergreen State College Longhouse) and most recently helped build NDN Collective's philanthropic infrastructure and grantmaking programs. She is in the process of organizing a canoe journey through the Great Lakes, retracing her ancestors' historic migration. Tina Kuckkahn joins us as this month's Native in the Spotlight to talk about the state of Native art, Ojibwe culture, and motorcycles. We'll also look back at the life of Indian Gaming Association chairman Ernie Stevens Jr., who just walked on. GUESTS Tina Kuckkahn (Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), president and CEO of the First Peoples Fund Jason Giles (Muscogee), executive director of the Indian Gaming Association Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), publisher and editor of Native News Online and Tribal Business News

The action by Republican Texas lawmakers to redraw congressional voting boundaries to favor Republican candidates has clear implications for the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas. The new contorted boundaries put the tribe at least four times the distance away from their elected representative's base of operation. The Texas move has also spurred other states to do that same and voting advocates worry about losing hard-fought ground for Native voter representation at the polls. We'll look at what the latest potential problem areas are and how it relates to the midterm elections. Also, we'll talk with a New Mexico District Attorney Bernadine Martin (Diné). She is fighting to keep her job amid allegations of incompetence and misconduct. Martin is the only female Native American district attorney in the state. She says she is being unfairly targeted. GUESTS Cecilia Flores (Alabama-Coushatta), tribal council chairwoman of the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas Nita Battise (Alabama-Coushatta), tribal council member of the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas Lenny Powell (Hopland Band of Pomo Indians), Native American Rights Fund staff attorney Daniel McCool, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Utah Bernadine Martin (Diné), McKinley County District Attorney

Among the informational signs flagged for review under the Trump administration's purge of “improper ideology” at National Parks is language at the Sitka National Monument Russian Bishop's House explaining how missionaries worked to destroy Indigenous cultures and languages in Alaska. A panel at Florida's Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is being questioned for including text about forced assimilation of imprisoned Native Americans. They are part of the ongoing review of parks, museums, and other institutions for information deemed disparaging to Americans. The review has prompted considerable concern over who is making decisions about how historical events are portrayed and whether Native historians have any input. GUESTS Michaela Pavlat (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), Indigenous partnerships program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association Julie Reed (Cherokee), associate professor of history at the University of Tulsa Morning Star Gali (Pit River Tribe), executive director of Indigenous Justice and the California tribal and community liaison for the International Indian Treaty Council Kimberly Smith (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), community conservation specialist for The Wilderness Society

Propelled by the success of her runaway bestseller, “Braiding Sweetgrass”, Robin Wall Kimmerer (Citizen Potawatomi) continues a passion for weaving together the science, the cultural knowledge, and the beauty of the natural environment and importance of taking notice of it. In her new children's picture book, “Bud Finds Her Gift,” a young girl discovers what it means to receive and give the gifts of nature. And her book, “The Serviceberry,” lands on the small fruit clusters as a starting point to awaken one's gratitude for the environment's abundance. We'll hear from Kimmerer about the arc of her work and the additional knowledge she's collected from it.

An unassuming café on Isleta Pueblo just won one of the most sought-after culinary recognitions in New Mexico. Isleta Grill is this year's Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge Champion for their frybread version of a regional delicacy. In northern Wisconsin, this year's wild rice yields are low. The state Department of Natural Resources blames wind damage and heavy rainfall from a series of strong storms. It's part of a pattern of diminished wild rice harvests in recent years. Cherokees cross-bred and cultivated apple varieties when they lived in the southeast U.S., but when the federal government forced a majority of Cherokees to move to Indian Territory (Oklahoma), they left their orchards behind. Now one cultural group is reviving those lost varieties of apples along with the history that goes with it. These are among the topics we'll hear about on The Menu, a special feature of Native America Calling on Indigenous food sovereignty and stories with Andi Murphy.

After two decades of work, supporters of an international agreement are celebrating ratification of a tool aimed at reversing ongoing threats to oceans around the globe. Sixty nations have signed onto the High Seas Treaty. It's a legally-binding document that maps a direction for marine biodiversity in international waters. It addresses threats such as pollution, overfishing, and damage caused by climate change. The goals align with those of many Indigenous populations, many of whom are bearing the brunt of diminished ocean diversity. At the same time, there are concerns about the ability to enforce the agreement against nations that choose to ignore it.

Seattle-based Indigenous funk/jazz band Khu.éex' is an ensemble full of storytellers and their stories carry a punch. They are back with another double album titled, “Red Cedar in the Hour of Chaos.” They carry on their unique P Funk-inspired sound and blend it with hip-hop, doom metal and psychedelia, all while drawing from Tlingit, Haida, and other Native roots. Another band, this one from the Southwest, weaves Diné stories and concepts into their just-released album filled with neo-soul and jazz influences. “Yáágo Dootliźh” is the second album from the Indigenous soul collective Earth Surface People. We'll talk with members of both these groups about the power of Native storytelling through music. GUESTS Preston Singletary (Tlingit), co-founder of Khu.éex', musician, and glass artist Sondra Segundo (Haida), lead female vocalist for Khu.éex', author, and educator Dakota Yazzie (Diné), leader of Earth Surface People

Lucy Smith just aged out of the foster care system but finds she needs to protect herself and her family against persistent threats from her past. She relies on the survival skills she's learned the hard way: a lack of trust in others and a readiness to run. Along the way she connects with her own Anishinaabe identity. “Sisters in the Wind” is the third mystery by author Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians). She weaves together themes of Indigenous identity, justice, and family through compelling characters and in a way that fans of her two previous novels, “Firekeeper's Daughter” and “Warrior Girl Unearthed”, will recognize. “Sisters in the Wind” is on our Native Bookshelf.

The Gila River Indian Community in Arizona is considering a new law to banish tribal members convicted of violent crimes. A bill awaits a signature from the New York governor that aims to strengthen the Seneca Nation's ability to enforce tribal laws, which includes removing people convicted of drug trafficking and other crimes. Those are among efforts by tribes to formalize the traditional practice of banishment as tool to combat crime, but such efforts sometimes conflict with modern legal systems. In Alaska, the Native Village of Togiak faces a legal challenge after tribal members forced a man suspected of illicit alcohol sales onto an airplane to another city. We'll get insights from tribal leaders and Native legal experts on how banishment fits in with modern justice. GUESTS David E. Wilkins (Lumbee), professor at the University of Richmond Matthew Fletcher (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians), law professor at the University of Michigan Law School and author of the “Turtle Talk” blog J.C. Seneca (Seneca), president of the Seneca Nation Anecia Kritz (Yup'ik), president of Togiak Traditional Council Alex Cleghorn (Tangirnaq Native Village), chief operating officer for the Alaska Native Justice Center and Tangirnaq Native Village council member

In life, Charlie Kirk espoused controversial opinions that many people consider repugnant. His violent and public death is now becoming a test for what other public figures—and ordinary citizens—are able to say without severe consequences. Dozens of people, including a Washington Post columnist and a U.S. Army colonel, are facing repercussions after speaking out about Kirk on social media. A Manitoba First Nations cabinet member is facing calls to resign after sharing a post criticizing Kirk for his views. One effort is collecting information on thousands of people for possible retribution for their comments about Kirk. We'll explore some of the limits of social media posts Native Americans should be aware of in their personal and professional lives. GUESTS Che Jim (Diné), content creator Kodee Artis (Navajo), tribal advocate, Navajo law practitioner, bladesmith, actor, and comedian Judith Wright (San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians), president of the National Native American Human Resources Association board

The advocacy group, Tewa Women United, is warning nearby Pueblo citizens and other local residents about Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico releasing gas containing the weak radioactive substance, tritium. The group says, despite assurances by lab experts and regulators that the substance is safe in relatively small doses, it is a dangerous substance and could pose a threat to pregnant women and others. Tritium is a naturally occuring substance, but is also produced in quantities during nuclear power generation and is a key component in nuclear weapons. LANL says it is forced to release the radioactive gas because the containers they've been in for decades pose a risk. We'll discuss what tritium does and whatever threat, if any, it poses. GUESTS Marissa Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo), deputy director of Sovereign Energy and a board member for Honor Our Pueblo Existence (HOPE) Pat Moss, deputy manager of National Nuclear Security Administration's Los Alamos field office Arjun Makhijani, Ph.D. in nuclear fusion from the University of California at Berkeley and the president of the Institute of Energy and Environmental Research Martha Izenson, a tribal attorney for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians just elected four women to what had been an all-male tribal council. The Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma just installed women in their top two leadership positions for the first time in history. As with the general population, Native women lag behind men when it comes to elected political power. The non-profit RepresentWomen finds Native women have a slightly higher average representation on tribal councils than non-Native women on local municipal elected bodies. We'll talk with some Native women about their progress in tribal and community leadership.

Two films take on real life accounts with strong Native cultural themes. One is a major Hollywood drama. The other is a smoldering independent documentary. The Hulu documentary “Blood & Myth” follows Iñupiaq musician and writer James Dommek Jr.'s obsession with a bizarre 2012 string of violence. Dommek digs into the motivations of the fellow Alaska Native man acting on the influence of supernatural beings known as Iñukuns. The Apple TV+ series, “Chief of War” stars Jason Momoa in the epic account of a real-life Hawaiian leader working to unite warring factions against the threat of Western colonization. GUESTS James Dommek Jr. (Iñupiaq), creator and executive producer of “Blood & Myth” Kahlil Hudson (Tlingit), filmmaker and director of “Blood & Myth” Thomas Pa'a Sibbett (Native Hawaiian), writer, producer, and co-creator of “Chief of War” Rick San Nicolas (Native Hawaiian and Chamorro), master Hawaiian featherwork artist and an advisor on “Chief of War”

Just as coronavirus infections are on the rise, federal authorities are throwing confusing recommendations about vaccinations into the mix. Many people are wondering whether they are eligible for a COVID shot, where to get one, and whether it's covered by insurance. The answer, at least partly, depends on whether your state or tribe is filling in gaps opening up following the federal Food and Drug Administration abruptly changing its view of who should get the shot, drawing criticism and even defiance by established medial groups. GUESTS Janet Johnson (Nambe and Santa Clara Pueblos and Mandan-Hidatsa), tribal liaison for the New Mexico Department of Health Dr. Beth Harp (Cherokee), executive medical director for Cherokee Nation Health Services Dr. Miranda Durham, chief medical officer for the New Mexico Department of Health

Tribes are seeking to flex whatever legal muscle they have to secure Colorado River water protections, just as forecasts show the resource to continue to disappear in the foreseeable future. The tribes are hoping to gain whatever leverage they can as policymakers negotiate new water plans. More than 30 tribes and seven states utilize water from the Colorado River, which has been experiencing record low water levels from a decades-long drought. Stakeholders are having to rethink their water use and flex their legal claims to the resource as existing water use plans are set to expire. In one case, the Colorado River Indian Tribes are pursuing their own declaration, giving the river the same rights as a person. Tribal advocates say it could better protect the important lifeline that carves through several tribal lands in the arid Southwest. GUESTS Heather Tanana (Diné), initiative lead of the Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities and a law professor at the University of Denver Daryl Vigil (Jicarilla Apache), co-director of the Water & Tribes Initiative Amelia Flores (Colorado River Indian Tribe), chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes John Bezdek, water attorney for the Colorado River Indian Tribes and a shareholder of the Water and Power Law Group

President Donald Trump is going to defend his tariff policy before the U.S. Supreme Court. Lower federal courts recently ruled that President Trump does not have the authority to impose tariffs under the national emergency powers. A new Pew Research Center poll found that 61% of Americans disapprove of his tariff policies. Businesses like Sisseton-Wahpeton fabric designer Denise Hill are faced with having to raise prices to make up for rising costs on goods from other countries. We'll get a reading on the effect tariffs have had on Native-owned businesses so far. GUESTS State Sen. Susan Webber (Blackfeet/D-MT [Browning]) Larry Chavis (Lumbee), economist and business school professor Jeff St. Louis (Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians), CEO and founder of Native Purchasing Group Denise Hill (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), owner of Family Affair

Suicide numbers are lower in places with higher incomes, better access to broadband internet, and good health insurance coverage. Unfortunately, those are all factors that are statistically lacking for many Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Development of the nationwide 988 Suicide and Lifeline has improved the persistently high Native suicide rate, and efforts to introduce culturally sensitive prevention and intervention methods are showing promise. As the federal government dissolves much of its support for mental health services and suicide prevention efforts, we'll highlight some of the work that is making a difference for Native populations. GUESTS Rachael Bogacz (Ponca and Omaha), director of Integrated Care for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska LuAnn Even, chief behavioral health officer for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Stephanie Pasternak, director of State Affairs for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Kim Farris, director of Behavioral Health for the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic

Oneida actor Graham Greene said learning the Lakota language for his celebrated role as Kicking Bird was among his greatest challenges. Over the span of nearly five decades, Greene worked in nearly 200 television shows and films where he earned the admiration of audiences and his fellow actors. His many characters included Maximus in the acclaimed series, “Reservation Dogs,” Old Smoke in “Tulsa King,” tribal police Chief Ben Shoyo in “Wind River,” and Edgar Montrose in the Canadian TV comedy series “The Red Green Show.” He was a busy actor who expanded Indigenous representation for both audiences and filmmakers. We'll hear from some of Greene's friends and colleagues about how he is remembered.

Once plentiful, salmon that return to Alaska's Yukon River are struggling to survive. The fishery is in the sixth straight year of restrictions, affecting commercial, sport, and subsistence salmon harvests. The reasons for the major decline in fish populations are complex. There's little agreement on which path to take from here. Alaska Native residents along the Yukon are working to have their voices heard along with the many entities weighing in trying to develop solutions.

Indigenous Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ artists often add another layer of expression to their work and stories. On top of celebrating their tribal and personal identities, they're bringing stories and voices forward that aren't often heard from elsewhere. They can also provide recognition and support for other LGBTQ2+ people searching for connection. We'll take a look at three new and upcoming Indigenous Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ art exhibits: “Queering Indigeneity” coming to the Minnesota Museum of American Art, “Two-Spirit and MMIW/R Voices” touring Minnesota, and “Two-Spirit and Gender Diversity through History” at the new Orillia Recreation Centre in Ontario, Canada. GUESTS Penny Kagigebi (White Earth Ojibwe), artist and emerging curator Dr. Kate Beane (Flandreau Santee Dakota and Muscogee), executive director of the Minnesota Museum of American Art Arnold Dahl-Wooley (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), national public speaker, advocate for the Two-Spirit LGBTQ+ community, and Twin Cities Pride BIPOC Leader of the Year Jessica Martin (Métis), goldsmith, fiddle player, and yoga instructor Monica Loney, Métis visual artist

The Trump administration is working to remove protections for more than 58 million acres of national forests. A brief public comment period is now open on a plan to rescind the federal government's 25-year-old Roadless Rule which prohibits road construction and timber harvesting in several states. Environmental groups and leaders of Alaska Native tribes with cultural ties to the Tongass National Forest — the country's largest national forest — are raising alarms about the plan. The vast temperate rainforest covers 17 million acres and is also the nation's largest stand of old-growth trees, many of which are at least 800 years old. Advocates warn that road construction and increased commercial logging threaten subsistence hunting, plant harvesting, and fishing. We'll talk with tribal leaders and others about what's at stake in Tongass and the future of forest management. GUESTS Chuck Sams (Cayuse and Walla), director of Indigenous Programs at Yale Center for Environmental Justice and former National Park Service director Cody Desautel (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation), president of the Intertribal Timber Council and the executive director of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Mike Jones (Haida), president of the Organized Village of Kasaan Ilsxílee Stáng/Gloria Burns (Haida), president of the Ketchikan Indian Community Joel Jackson (Tlingit and Haida), president of the Organized Village of Kake

The Shinnecock Nation in New York is in an ongoing legal battle to have their fishing rights recognized. A lawsuit brought forward by a Shinnecock tribal citizen argues the tribe has never ceded their right to fish in any treaty or agreement. The tribe has no treaty with the federal government, but instead with British colonists from the 1600s. This case could possibly affirm the tribe's unended aboriginal claim to fish in the Hamptons. We'll talk with Shinnecock citizens about what's at stake with the case as it moves forward in federal district court. GUESTS Taobi Silva (Shinnecock), fisherman Riley Plumer (Red Lake Nation), attorney Randy King (Shinnecock), former chairman of the Shinnecock Nation Board of Trustees Ashley Dawn Anderson (Cherokee Nation), Tribal Water Institute Fellow at the Native American Rights Fund

In the comedy thriller "Seeds", social media influencer Ziggy is offered a lucrative sponsorship contract with a corporate seed and fertilizer company, but she's also called back to her Mohawk reservation to help out her cousin, which gets her tangled in an all-out battle to save her tribe's ancestral seeds. Kanienʼkehá:ka Mohawk actor Kaniehtiio Horn is Ziggy. She is also the screenwriter and director for the film. And a new collection of stories by Indigenous authors, “Legendary Frybread Drive-In”, serves up more than just Native comfort food. Each of the stories geared toward young adult readers finds its way to Sandy June's Legendary Frybread Drive-in, a place with a helping of elder wisdom about love, grief, culture, and healing. Editor Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) calls it “a hug of a book”. Horn and Smith both join Andi Murphy for "The Menu", our special feature on Indigenous food sovereignty.

Serving on a school board is not a glamorous position, but it's an important one that plays a big role in Native American students' success. Elected members of school boards make decisions ranging annual budgets to what's allowed in classroom lessons. They are also responsible for representing the community's values and interests. As such, individual board members are lightning rods for public criticism. We'll get a look at what school board members encounter on a daily basis and hear about a program designed to support Native school board participation. GUESTS Stacey Woolley (Choctaw), member on Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education Regina Yazzie (White Mountain Apache), member for the Theodore Roosevelt School Governing Board Michele Justice (Diné), owner of Personnel Security Consultants Dr. Chris Bonn, owner of Bonfire Leadership Solutions

Aquinnah Wampanoag journalist Joseph Lee investigates the difficult subject of Indigenous identity in his new book, "Nothing More Of This Land". He uses his own family's story as a jumping off point, exploring the reality of the people who once greeted the Mayflower. The original Wampanoag homeland includes Martha's Vineyard, the haven for wealthy elites that has become so expensive that at least three quarters of tribal members can no longer afford to live there. Lee branches out from there to find parallels among the Native people and places he's covered — from Alaska to the halls of the United Nations. We'll talk with Lee about his new book, journalism, and what it means to be Native in modern America.