Native America Calling - The Electronic Talking Circle

For many Native American survivors, a cancer diagnosis is more than just a biological battle. It is a matter of balancing modern oncology with community and cultural context. American Cancer Society data show a historic 70% five-year survival rate across the general population, but Native Americans continue to face unique hurdles, from geographic isolation to chronic underfunding of the Indian Health Service. Despite these disparities, survivors are reclaiming their narratives by integrating traditional healing practices with cutting-edge science. We'll hear from Native survivors in the context of the ongoing advancements in cancer diagnosis and treatment. GUESTS Shannon Martin (Gun Lake Potawatomi), cancer survivor Jamie Gomez (Tlingit and Haida), executive director of the Tlingit and Haida Foundation and American Indian Cancer Foundation board member Alicia Mitchell (Cherokee), Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention board member and American Indian Cancer Foundation board member Nicole Hallingstad (Tlingit), cancer survivor

A select few Native American artists choose to express their cultural and creative passions in miniature. An exhibition starting this month at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures celebrates those artists who make distinctive pottery, baskets, and carvings on a decidedly downsized scale. The top Indigenous beaders, potters, painters, and weavers are headed to the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Ariz. for that institution's 68th annual Indian Art Fair and Market. The Heard welcomes more than 600 artists from all over the world for what has become one of the must-go events for both artists and collectors. We'll hear from organizers and artists from both of these events. GUESTS Marcus Monenerkit (Comanche descendant), director of community engagement at the Heard Museum Barbara Teller Ornelas (Diné), master Navajo weaver Aydrian Day (Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, Dakota and Lakota and an enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation), artist Sydney Pursel (Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska), curator at the Spencer Museum of Art and an advisory group member for the “Native Arts in Miniature” exhibition Amy McKune, curator and senior manager of collections at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures Break 1 Music: Crossroad Blues (song) Lakota John (artist) Lakota John and Kin (album) Break 2 Music: Digital Winter (song) Ya Tseen (artist) Stand On My Shoulders (album)

The Seneca Nation in New York is working to correct longstanding confusion over law enforcement on their land. A nearly 80-year-old federal statute handed the state control over certain crimes on Seneca Nation’s territory. A bill in Congress could chart a path to resolving that conflict. In Oklahoma, a Muscogee Nation citizen argues that those who work and live on the tribal land do not have to pay state income taxes. That argument could now be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The issue comes nearly six years after the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that confirmed Muscogee authority over criminal matters on tribal land. This current battle would extend that authority to civil cases. And the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe tribe in Wisconsin is facing off with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi over outside access to a road that traverses tribal land. Bondi backs an effort to force the tribe to reimburse a nearby town for fees to access the road. We'll find out the potential implications of these cases. GUESTS J.C. Seneca (Seneca), president of the Seneca Nation Jonodev Chaudhuri (Muscogee), principal at Chaudhuri Law Jason Salsman (Muscogee), press secretary for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Richard Monette (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), professor emeritus and former director of the Great Lakes Indian Law Center at the University of Wisconsin Law School Break 1 Music: Keep On Keeping On (song) Tall Paul (artist) The Story of Jim Thorpe (album) Break 2 Music: Digital Winter (song) Ya Tseen (artist) Stand On My Shoulders (album)

Advocates working to accurately portray Native Americans in the K-12 education system in Texas scored a victory when the State Board of Education renewed a curriculum that was years in the making. The approval came at a time when the Trump administration and state officials pushed hard to scrub any hint of diversity from public school classrooms. Among other things, opponents of the Texas Native Studies course worried instruction about the Catholic Church's role in Indian Boarding Schools might demoralize Christian students. We'll look at what saved the Texas lessons and get a status update on some other states wrestling with efforts to accurately depict Native Americans throughout history. GUESTS Cheyenne Rendon (Apache and Navajo), senior policy officer for the Society of Native Nations, a member of American Indian Movement of Central Texas Stephen Silva-Brave (Sicangu Lakota), parent, licensed social worker, and Ph.D student Sashay Schettler (Hidatsa and Nueta from the MHA Nation), assistant director in the office of Indian and Multicultural Education for the North Dakota Office of Public Instruction and a member of the National Johnson-O’Malley Association board of directors representing Region 5 Dr. Sherry Johnson (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), education director for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate

Two new healing centers count on location, cultural practice, and family connections to break the destructive effects of substance abuse. In Lodge Grass, Mont., organizers plan an integrated foster care facility to complement a campus designed to support families affected by addiction. The non-profit organization behind the center estimates that number reaches as high as 60% of residents in the small town on the Crow Reservation. The Pawnee Nation in Oklahoma is also expanding adult residential and outpatient services close to home, as well as support for children whose lives are disrupted. We'll hear about a promising focus on cultural treatment options, harm reduction, and strengthening families to break addiction's generational cycles. GUESTS Mary Blackowl (Cheyenne and Arapaho, Pawnee, and Comanche), tribal opioid response prevention specialist for the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma Karaya Fritzler (Apsáalooke, Aaniiih, and Lakota), certified behavioral health peer specialist for the Mountain Shadow Association Megkian Doyle, executive director of the Mountain Shadow Association Mike Ortiz, program coordinator for the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma's substance abuse program

A crew from Chevak, Alaska recover a submerged boat, part of the marine debris created by Typhoons Merbok (2022) and Helong (2025). (Photo: Richard Tuluk) Typhoon Merbok swept buildings, boats, and tons of trash into the sea off the west coast of Alaska in 2022. The city of Chevak is one of many coastal Alaska Native communities tasked with helping to find and recover that and other marine debris clogging the coastal waters and shorelines. With federal funding help, the ongoing cleanup is aimed at making the waterways safe for people and marine animals. A similar project is underway in Hawai'i, where the non-profit Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project works year-round, pulling tons of debris from around the northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a place sacred to Native Hawaiians. Coastal tribes are an important piece of the puzzle for solving the growing problem of derelict nets, ropes, boats, and other trash that threaten marine ecosystems. In this program, we'll talk with some of the people involved in the cleanup about what it takes to rid marine areas of unsightly and dangerous debris. GUESTS Richard Tuluk (Cup'ik), project manager for the City of Chevak Jacquie Foss, commercial fisherman and works with Alaska Sea Grant and the Alaska Center for Marine Debris Grant Ka’ehukai Goin (Kānaka ʻŌiwi), cultural specialist and lead marine debris tech for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Cary Morin (Crow/Assiniboine) is back with a new album featuring more of his introspective lyricism, soulful singing and skillful fingerstyle guitar playing. The new album, “Pocket of Time“, captures memories and slices of everyday life on the Crow Reservation in Montana. It is a calm, mellow listen and another refreshing entry in his expansive catalogue that spans folk, blues, reggae, and “Native Americana” genres. “Big Changes” is the forthcoming album from Status/Non-Status, a Canadian indie-rock band led by Anishinaabe musician Adam Sturgeon. It is the third studio record, following up on 2022's “Surly Travel”, which was named one of Exclaim! Magazine's top albums of the year. Beautiful vocals stretch overtop fat guitar chords and incidental sound effects like the unmistakable chime of jingle dress cones. Sturgeon says he never set out to represent all Indigenous musicians, but he feels a responsibility to Indigenize his own music.

Honeycreepers only live in Hawai’i and the birds are interwoven into Native Hawaiian culture. Feathers from the strikingly colorful birds are a key part of ceremonial cloaks and other regalia. The birds themselves are prominent in cultural stories, but of the more than 50 original species of honeycreepers, only 17 survive — and those are threatened with extinction. Several factors contribute to the population decline, but a pressing concern is a mosquito-borne avian malaria. We'll hear from Native Hawaiian conservationists on the efforts to save these unique and important birds. GUESTS Bret Mossman (Native Hawaiian), director of Birds Hawai‘i Past Present Ben Catcho (Native Hawaiian), Indigenous communications and outreach specialist for the American Bird Conservancy and outreach lead for Birds Not Mosquitoes Keoki Kanakaokai (Native Hawaiian and Athabascan), natural resource manager for The Nature Conservancy Maui Terrestrial Program and co-lead of the Nature Conservancy Native Network Hina Kneubuhl (Native Hawaiian), translator, storyteller, and kapa maker

Kasey Jernigan (Choctaw) interviewed and observed Choctaw women over a period of years about food and their relationships to it. She documents what she learned in those observations in her new book, “Commod Bods: Embodied Heritage, Foodways and Indigeneity”. The book uses federal food and nutrition assistance as the jumping off point for an exploration of individual perceptions of food and colonial influences on Native health outcomes. A quaint eatery in Arizona's Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is attracting attention over and above the dozens of other frybread stands that dot reservation roadsides across the country. The Stand was just named one of USA Today's 2026 Restaurants of the Year. It's built by the same person who makes the frybread dough and serves the soup in a decidedly rustic setting. Author, poet, educator and legal scholar Marique B. Moss (Photo: courtesy M. Moss) Marique B. Moss explores her Black and Indigenous identity in her poetic memoir, “Sweetgrass and Soul Food”. She is among the Native people offering support to Minneapolis residents in the wake of the expanded immigration efforts from her space, Mashkiki Studios. GUESTS Dr. Kasey Jernigan (Choctaw), assistant professor of American studies and anthropology at the University of Virginia and the author of “Commod Bods: Embodied Heritage, Foodways, and Indigeneity” Michael Washington (Pima and Maricopa), co-owner of The Stand Marique Moss (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara and Dakota), owner of Mishkiki Studios, author, and cultural educator

Choctaw homicide detective Perry Antelope works on a missing persons case alongside the Choctaw Lighthorsemen tribal police in Devon Mihesuah's (Choctaw) new mystery novel, “Blood Relay“. The story of the disappearance of a young athlete is set against the backdrop of the competitive bareback horse relay racing. The fictional fast-paced thriller also takes on the real-life issue of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives and the evolving jurisdictional complexities between federal, state, and tribal law enforcement in Oklahoma. Mihesuah, a historian and the Cora Lee Beers Price Teaching Professor at the University of Kansas, continues her tradition of creating strong leading women. She's the author of the detective Monique Blue Hawk series (“Document of Expectations”, “Dance of the Returned“ and “The Hatak Witches“) and the 2024 collection of horror stories, “The Bone Picker“. She authored several non-fiction titles including “Recovering Our Ancestors’ Gardens: Indigenous Recipes and Guide to Diet and Fitness”. We add Mihesuah's Blood Relay to our Native Bookshelf.

Congress just approved significant funding increases going forward for a handful of core domestic violence funding and policy initiatives. But at the same time, many services for survivors face a new level of unpredictability. Victim support funds in some states plummeted as much as 70%, leaving states to try and cover some of those costs. The Trump administration instituted requirements that domestic violence survivors prove their immigration status before being allowed into shelters and certain long-time domestic violence services remain a target in upcoming federal budget talks. We'll get a picture of the current trends for domestic violence prevention. GUESTS Abigail Echo-Hawk (Pawnee), director of the Urban Indian Health Institute and executive vice president of the Seattle Indian Health Board Melissa L. Pope, Chief Judge of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Rochelle Red Bone Arebalo (Apache and Commanche), chairperson of the MMIW Indian Capital Chapter Stacey Ettawageshik (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians), executive director of Uniting Three Fires Against Violence

Former Osage Principal Chief Jim Gray is remembered as a leader who laid the foundation for a modern, self-governing tribal structure while also reconnecting the tribe with its cultural roots. Among his many accomplishments as a transformative leader, Jim Gray spearheaded the historic reform of Osage government in 2004. That secured the individual right to vote for each Osage citizen rather than headright ownership and restored the Nation's sovereign status. During his time as principal chief, the Nation also successfully negotiated a landmark $380 million settlement with the U.S. government — at the time the largest of its kind — addressing decades of tribal trust fund mismanagement. All the while, he remained a determined advocate for cultural and language revitalization. Gray walked on this month. We'll hear from his family and friends about his legacy. We’ll also remember Black civil rights leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died this week at the age of 84. Jackson championed various Native causes throughout his career including opposition to nuclear waste dumping on tribal lands and support for the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. GUESTS Olivia Gray (Osage), wife to Jim Gray Hepsi Barnett (Osage), former chief of staff and government reform coordinator for the Osage Nation Yancey Red Corn (Osage, Caddo, and Potawatomi), actor, CEO of White Buffalo Alliance and nephew to Jim Gray Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee), president of the Morning Star Institute and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Break 1 Music: Wahzhazhe (song) Scott George (artist) Killers of the Flower Moon Soundtrack (album) Break 2 Music: Keep Hope Alive (song) The Crystal Method (artist) Vegas (album)

Native Americans have worked hard for decades to counter the stereotypes perpetuated in old movies and television shows about the American West. Now a new generation of Native technology experts worry that artificial intelligence is eroding that work. Scores of AI-generated images and videos are flooding people's social media For You pages. The creations are within easy reach of anyone typing a prompt into any AI generator that scrapes information from millions of sources. Often posted by anonymous creators, the products of those prompts present vaguely Native visual and audio characteristics with little to no authentic cultural connections. Along the way they generate hundreds of thousands of admirers. We'll talk about the work to counter the looming onslaught of AI cultural appropriation. GUESTS Dr. Angelo Baca (Diné and Hopi), professor of history, philosophy, and social sciences at the Rhode Island School of Design Trevor Reed (Hopi), professor of law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law and an associate justice for the Hopi Tribe Court of Appeals Dr. Tamika Worrell (Gamilaroi), senior lecturer of critical Indigenous studies at Macquarie University Break 1 Music: Obsidian (song) Red-209 (artist) Break 2 Music: Digital Winter (song) Ya Tseen (artist) Stand On My Shoulders (album)

Keeya Wiki (Yurok and Maori) is not yet old enough to vote, but she is making waves in official discussions about climate policy and environmental sustainability. She was among a group of young people who made a historic kayak journey down the Klamath River from its source in the Cascade Mountains to its confluence with the Pacific Ocean after the largest dam removal project in history. It was both a celebration of her tribe's accomplishments and a statement about what she sees as the future of successful, tribally-driven environmental policy. Since then she has also served as a delegate to the U.N.'s recent climate summit in Brazil. We'll hear about her determined and creative intersection of cultural knowledge and modern climate activism. GUESTS Keeya Wiki (Yurok and Māori descent), Indigenous advocate Ruby Williams (Karuk), Native water activist and kayaker Break 1 Music: BALDH3AD! (song) Theia (artist) Break 2 Music: Digital Winter (song) Ya Tseen (artist) Stand On My Shoulders (album)

The federal panel that oversees commercial and subsistence fishing in Alaska is putting a hard limit on the number of chum salmon that are caught — and wasted — by commercial pollack trawlers. It is a long awaited — and controversial — decision by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council after years of outcry by tribes to address the factors that go into the disappearing runs of salmon that Alaska Native people have always relied on for survival. Although presented as a compromise, the bycatch limit is seen as a severe blow by commercial fishers, who say such restrictions could be catastrophic to the industry. The decision comes as the state also instituted severe regional restrictions on king salmon fishing because of low numbers. They are among the latest measures to address the big and complex ecological threats to what is historically the most productive salmon fishery in the world. GUESTS Charles Wright (Athabascan), secretary/treasurer for Tanana Chiefs Conference Jonathan Samuelson (Yup’iaq and Dene), vice-chair of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Craig Chythlook (Yup’ik), executive director of the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Terese Vicente, policy and programs director for the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Full statement from the Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance (APFA) mentioned in today’s show: “The Council's decision reflects the seriousness of the challenges facing Western Alaska chum salmon and the complexity of managing a dynamic fishery. The pollock industry respects the Council process and remains committed to working within this new framework while continuing to invest in science-based, real-time avoidance tools that have already delivered meaningful reductions in Western Alaska chum bycatch. We share the goal of protecting salmon and the communities that depend on them while also providing the flexibility to respond to real-time fishing conditions. This allows the fleet to harvest its pollock while providing important benefits to Alaskan coastal and fishery dependent communities. While the alternative chosen establishes a restrictive cap and includes elements of fixed closures that may inhibit responsiveness to changing conditions, we understand the Council's desire for strong incentives and clear parameters for management. We adhere to the principles of continuous improvement and will work with managers, scientists, and engaged partners to ensure the use of all available tools, including the use of real-time genetic analysis, to achieve meaningful conservation outcomes.” Break 1 Music:  Canoe Song (song) Chenoa (artist) Spirit of Salishan (album)

With help from Congress, the Trump Administration stripped some $1.5 billion in federal funds previously promised to tribes. A lot of that was in the form of contracts for clean energy manufacturing and development — new money doled out three years earlier as part of President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. A new analysis by the Brookings Institution identifies three funding and policy changes, including reductions in SNAP and Medicaid, that negatively affect Native Americans. The research firm says the actions continue a pattern of disinvestment and falls short of the federal government's binding responsibility to Indian Country. GUESTS Robert Maxim (Mashpee Wampanoag), fellow at The Brookings Institution Chéri Smith (Mi’kmaq descendant), president and CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy Timothy Nuvangyaoma (Hopi), vice president of tribal engagement for the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy and former chairman of the Hopi Tribe Dr. Kyle Whyte (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan

Inuit siblings Ukaleq and Sondre Slettermark are competing for Greenland in the biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. In addition to making their mark in elite athletic competition, they have used their platform to speak out against the Trump administration's threats to take over their homeland. The Slettermarks are among the handful of Indigenous athletes at this year's Winter Games. Other athletes include a Métis luge competitor and a Māori freestyle skier. We’ll get insights from Indigenous journalists and athletes keeping up with the high level competition in Milan. GUESTS Dan Ninham (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), freelance reporter for ICT News and director of the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame Naomi Lang (Karuk Tribe), former Olympic ice skater and first Native American woman to represent the United States in the Winter Olympics Eric Varderman (Cherokee Nation), founder and president of the Tulsa Curling Club Break 1 Music: Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby (song) Link Wray (artist) Rumble! The Best of Link Wray (album) Break 2 Music: Taste Of Red Bull [Crow Hop] (song) Cree Confederation (artist) Horse Dance – Mistamim Simoowin (album)

Moses Wiseman (Yup’ik) always knew he wanted to be a leader. Specifically, one with qualities that Wiseman learned from elders and other community members in the Village of Chefornak. At 24 years old, he is pursuing an MBA in strategic leadership at Alaska Pacific University, while also helping to create a Yup’ik glossary for health care providers. He and five other young, emerging Native leaders from all parts of the country have been selected for this year’s Center for Native American Youth’s Champions for Change. The program recognizes young people who exemplify leadership, taking steps to build positive outcomes in their communities. We’ll hear about these young people's passions and what drives them to serve others. GUESTS Summer Wildbill (Confederated Tribes of Umatilla), 2026 Champion for Change McKaylin Peters (Menominee), 2026 Champion for Change Moses Wiseman (Yup'ik), 2026 Champion for Change Kaylah Toves (Kanaka Maoli and Acoma Pueblo), 2026 Champion for Change Break 1 Music: Generations (song) P. Town Boyz (artist) P. Town Boyz (album) Break 2 Music: Taste Of Red Bull [Crow Hop] (song) Cree Confederation (artist) Horse Dance – Mistamim Simoowin (album)

Long before it was fully paved, the road that became Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., was designated as one of the nation's original numbered highways 100 years ago. Crossing vast stretches of Native American land in places like Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona, it eventually delivered a steady stream of mobile customers to enterprising Native merchants selling everything from trinkets to fine jewelry and textiles to frybread. The signature eye-popping billboards and kitschy neon signs that defined the route are mostly gone, but a few hold-out examples of 50s road-trip culture remain. And a number of new businesses are expecting to cash in with renewed interest in an old highway. GUESTS Ron Solimon (Laguna Pueblo), owner of Solimon Business Development and Strategy, a board member for the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, and chair of the Laguna Community Foundation Delene Santillanes (Diné), marketing and projects coordinator for the City of Gallup tourism department and a new board member of the New Mexico Route 66 Association Dr. Troy Lovata, professor of archaeology in the University of New Mexico honors college Break 1 Music: Brown Eyed Handsome Man (song) The Wingate Valley Boys (artist) Navajoland U.S.A. Country Happening (album) Break 2 Music: Taste Of Red Bull [Crow Hop] (song) Cree Confederation (artist) Horse Dance – Mistamim Simoowin (album)

Millions of Americans will get a bigger tax refunds this year thanks to an array of new tax breaks, including a larger standard deduction and a child tax credit for those eligible. There is also the elimination for taxes on tips and a larger deduction for elders. But there are some things to look out for, including the move away from paper checks, which will require some additional work for those without traditional bank accounts, and a sizable reduction in the IRS staff, which could make for a more difficult time getting answers if you need help. GUESTS Chelsi Tsosie (Diné), Chistine A. Brunswick Public Service fellow with the DNA-People's Legal Services low-income tax payer clinic Leslie McLean, low-income tax payer clinic director for DNA People's Legal Services Break 1 Music: Coffee (song) James Bilagody (artist) Near Midnight (album) Break 2 Music: Taste Of Red Bull [Crow Hop] (song) Cree Confederation (artist) Horse Dance – Mistamim Simoowin (album)

The past year has seen Leonard Peltier's release from prison, record revenue from casinos and other economic development, and the addition of a new federally recognized tribe. It is also seen major upheaval in federal funds and staff that directly affect Indian Country. Looking ahead, tribes are navigating the potential loss of lucrative federal contracts and indications that consultation and treaty rights are taking a back seat. We'll get the annual status update from National Congress of American Indians President Mark Macarro. GUEST Dr. Renae Ditmer (Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians), journalist and independent economic development consultant Break 1 Music: Intertribal (song) Blackfoot Confederacy (artist) Confederacy Style (album) Break 2 Music: Taste Of Red Bull [Crow Hop] (song) Cree Confederation (artist) Horse Dance – Mistamim Simoowin (album)

As the country gears up to commemorate 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, several galleries are exploring the enduring strengths of Native Americans through both traditional and contemporary works. “Paper Trails: Unfolding Indigenous Narratives” at the Museum of Contemporary Native Art in Santa Fe, N.M. aims to stretch the boundaries of the paper medium while also examining Native cultural survival in the face of colonization. “Constellations of Place” at the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College is centered on a visual history of Native people in Colorado. And Seattle's Tidelands Gallery compiles a narrative inspired by “Lushootseed Creation Stories”. We'll talk with artists and curators about how art inserts itself into the narratives being told about the origin of America. We'll also hear about the year-long streaming Native film festival, “Everything is Connected”, developed by Vision Maker Media. GUESTS Alana Stone (Sičhą́ǧu Lakȟóta and Diné), curatorial specialist at Vision Maker Media Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip), author, photographer, and CEO of Tidelands Melissa Melero-Moose (Northern Paiute), artist, independent curator, and co-curator of “Paper Trails: Unfolding Indigenous Narratives” Dr. Meranda Roberts (Yerington Paiute Tribe and Chicana), independent curator and guest curator for “Constellations of Place” Break 1 Music: Atomic Drop [feat. Northern Cree] (song) The Halluci Nation (artist) Path of the Heel (album) Break 2 Music: Wahzhazhe (song) Scott George (artist) Killers of the Flower Moon Soundtrack (album)

An Iñupiaq village on Alaska's North Slope is suing after the Trump administration removed protections for an area important to subsistence hunting. The suit by Nuiqsut Trilateral Inc. says the action is in response to a move to expand oil drilling beyond what is in a Biden-era agreement for the Willow project. Another fight pitting caribou and oil drilling is resurfacing over increased momentum to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where Gwich’in people express concern over the declines of the Porcupine caribou herd — the state's largest — which is down to a quarter of what it was two decades ago. We'll look at the factors that affect Alaska's caribou and what Alaska Native people who depend on them are doing about them. We’ll also hear about Indigenous climate activist Daria Egereva (Selkup) who is facing terrorism charges in Russia after testifying at the United Nation's COP30 summit in favor of including Indigenous women in climate negotiations. GUESTS Rosemary Ahtuangaruak (Iñupiaq), former Mayor of Nuiqsut Aivana Enmynkau (Chukchi), climate activist Luda Kinok (Yupik), Indigenous rights activist Break 1 Music: Reindeer (song) Pamyua (artist) Caught in The Act (album) Break 2 Music: Wahzhazhe (song) Scott George (artist) Killers of the Flower Moon Soundtrack (album)

College Native American Studies courses are engines for Native-led research in addition to serving as a welcoming academic home for Native students. As it is, Native students are already the most under-represented group on college campuses. Their numbers declined in the decade before the Covid pandemic. There are indications that the 2023 Supreme Court decision upending Affirmative Action and the Trump administration's focus on unraveling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are doing further damage to all minority enrollment. As the American Indian Studies Association convention gets underway, we'll assess the power and challenges of college programs focusing specifically on Native issues. GUESTS Dr. Souksavanh Keovorabouth (Diné), assistant professor of Women's and Gender Studies at Northern Arizona University and president of the American Indian Studies Association Mario Atencio (Diné), Native American Studies Ph.D candidate at the University of New Mexico Allison Shaddox (Cherokee), Native American Studies Ph.D. student at the University of New Mexico Kelly Nalani Beym (Diné), Ph.D. candidate in geography at the University of Kansas Break 1 Music: Manitou (song) The Delbert Anderson Trio (artist) MANITOU (album) Break 2 Music: Wahzhazhe (song) Scott George (artist) Killers of the Flower Moon Soundtrack (album)

The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe just held an event to commemorate 25 years since the landmark legislation outlining a historic co-stewardship agreement between the tribe and the National Park Service in Death Valley. The tribe's name is on the entrance sign to the park. At the same time, the Trump administration is calling for the removal of informational plaques in the visitor center that tells the tribe's story. The sign's removal is one of almost 20 at National Park sites around the country, including Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument, the site of the allied tribes' decisive victory over George Armstrong Custer and U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry Regiment. We'll talk to tribal representatives about how the information in National Parks was developed and what message removing it sends. GUESTS Dorothy FireCloud (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), retired assistant director of Native American affairs for the National Park Service Otis Halfmoon (Nez Perce), retired National Park Service employee Mandi Campbell (Timbisha Shoshone), tribal historic preservation officer for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe Gheri Hall (Blackfeet), co-director of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office for the Blackfeet Tribe Break 1 Music: This Land (song) Keith Secola (artist) Native Americana – A Coup Stick (album) Break 2 Music: Wahzhazhe (song) Scott George (artist) Killers of the Flower Moon Soundtrack (album)

The Oglala Lakota tribal president banned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Red Lake Band of Ojibwe officials say ICE can't operate on their Minnesota reservation without prior consultation. A number of tribes are waiving tribal ID fees and reaching out to secure their members' citizenship documents. Dozens of tribes are offering guidance for Native Americans who encounter ICE agents. The actions are part of the response by tribes and prominent Native organizations as more stories surface of Native residents tangling — and even being detained — in the ICE crackdown in Minneapolis and elsewhere. GUESTS Lenny Fineday (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), general counsel for the National Congress of American Indians Beth Margaret Wright (Laguna Pueblo), senior staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund Frank Star Comes Out (Oglala Lakota), president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Break 1 Music: Our Autonomy (song) Klee Benally (artist) Appropriation (album) Break 2 Music: Wahzhazhe (song) Scott George (artist) Killers of the Flower Moon Soundtrack (album)

Ya Tseen pushes the boundaries of the musical collaboration's signature psych-pop sound with their latest album, “Stand on My Shoulders.” It's the second full-length album led by musician, visual artist, and totem carver Nicholas Galanin (Tlingit/Unangax̂) under the Seattle-based Sub Pop Records label. The music features diverse collaborations from the indie rock group Portugal. The Man, famed singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello, and the experimental hip hop artist Pink Siifu. It explores themes of kinship and collectivism but also pays homage to Galanin's late father – lauded Tlingit silver carver and musician Dave Galanin. Cochemea Gastelum‘s latest offering, “Vol. III: Ancestros Futuros“, completes an album trilogy that explores dreams, oral history, memories (both real and imagined), and Gastelum's Yaqui identity. The new recording brings together the fruits of Gastelum's 25 years in the music business performing with the likes of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, avant-garde jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp, and the popular rap-duo Run the Jewels.

Do Native Americans need more encouragement to consume saturated fats? Native nutritionists are wondering how the new federal dietary guidelines just unveiled by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. intersects with decades of scientific research urging the population with the highest rates of heart disease to limit their saturated fat intake. The new federal food pyramid shows up in recommendations for programs like Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Head Start, Indian Health Service, and the National School Lunch Program. Tribes in the Pacific Northwest are stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to seals taking a bite out of the salmon populations they worked decades to preserve. The seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. They feast on fish that on which the tribes rely. We will look at how this situation affects tribal treaty rights and what tribes are doing in response. A handful of organizations are working to strengthen traditional connections between urban Native residents and buffalo. Organizers in Chicago and Denver are among those working to put the animals closer to Native people who might not otherwise have exposure to a significant traditional source of food. GUESTS Dr. Tara Maudrie (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), assistant professor at the University of Michigan in the School of Social Work Cecilia Gobin (Tulalip), conservation policy analyst with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Dnisa Oocumma (Eastern Band of Cherokee), community engagement coordinator for the American Indian Center Lewis TallBull (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma), co-founder and president of Sacred Return Dr. Valarie Jernigan (Choctaw), professor of medicine and director of the Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy at Oklahoma State University's Center for Health Sciences Carley Griffith-Hotvedt (Cherokee), executive director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative

Thaioronióhte Dan David (Kanehsatà:ke Mohawk) launched the news department for Canada's Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). In doing so, he gave Indigenous voices a national public platform they did not previously have. He started his career with the CBC covering the Yukon Territory. He reported on the Oka Crisis, among many other historic events. After establishing APTN News, he spent a decade reshaping a national newsroom in post-apartheid South Africa. We’ll speak with David's family, friends and colleagues about his many accomplishments and the importance of putting Indigenous voices front and center in news coverage. We’ll also hear from a founder of the Lakota Times newspaper on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The independent weekly newspaper ceased publication this month after decades in operation, leaving a blank space for Native news in the Great Plains region. GUESTS Marie David (Kanien’kehá:ke Mohawk), sister to Dan David Karyn Pugliese (Pikwàkanagàn First Nation), host and producer Nation to Nation of APTN News Drew Hayden Taylor (Curve Lake First Nation), playwright and author Bruce Spence (Opaskwayak Cree Nation), producer at APTN National News Sylvia Vollenhoven, journalist and filmmaker Amanda War Takes Bonnett-Beauvais (Oglala Lakota), public education specialist at the Native Women's Society of the Great Plains and former editor and publisher at the Lakota Country Times Break 1 Music: Stomp Dance (song) George Hunter (artist) Haven (album) Break 2 Music: Mahaha: Tickling Demon (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Legends (album)

President Donald Trump appears to have backed off his most urgent rhetoric, for now, around acquiring Greenland against the will of nearly every European nation and the vast majority of Americans. But the threat of a potential takeover of Greenland and other sovereign nations remains, with Trump officials also putting Cuba, Columbia, and even Canada and Mexico on notice for what Trump himself refers to as the “Donroe Doctrine”, a reference to the 200-year-old foreign policy asserting America's dominance in the Western Hemisphere. The momentum for such imperialistic rhetoric is a reminder of a dark time for Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples potentially in Trump's path. GUESTS Dr. Sara Olsvig (Inuk from Greenland), chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council and holds a Ph.D in Arctic studies Andrea Carmen (Yaqui), executive director of the International Indian Treaty Council Tillie Martinussen (Inuit), former member of Parliament of Greenland Malu Rosing (Inuit), advisor on Arctic and global governance for the International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs Break 1 Music: Tikitaummata (song) Susan Aglukark (artist) The Crossing (album) Break 2 Music: Mahaha: Tickling Demon (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Legends (album)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says he is taking a “sledgehammer” to a federal program that many tribes and tribal businesses rely on. He is referring to the Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program that extends contract priorities to disadvantaged business owners. Hegseth uses words like “fraud” and “scheme” to describe what he says is an outdated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative. His is part of an overall scrutiny of the program by the federal government. Hundreds of Native small businesses have accessed the program over the past 60 years, and some Alaska Native corporations have multi-million dollar contracts. GUESTS Jon Panamaroff (Native Village of Afognak), co-chair of the Native American Contractors Association and CEO of Command Holdings Kevin Allis (Forest County Potawatomi), founder and president of Thunderbird Strategic and former CEO of the National Congress of American Indians Nick Grube, investigative reporter at Honolulu Civil Beat Break 1 Music: Shawnee Stomp Dance (song) Little Axe Singers (artist) Traditional Voices: Historic Recordings of Traditional Native American Music (album) Break 2 Music: Mahaha: Tickling Demon (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Legends (album)

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (Sicangu Lakota and Ponca) mistook her first interaction with racism — a separate gas station outhouse reserved for “Indians” — as a privileged courtesy for her and her people. It is one of the “Special Places, Sacred Circles” that she recalls in the account of her life on the dry, windy plains of South Dakota. She tells of the Great Depression, grandmothers who taught her the power of words, and the navigation of a literary world that embraced her. Sneve was one of the first authors to offer an alternative to children's literature flush with stereotypes. Her insightful writing took her from her home along Ponca Creek to a presidential honor at the White House. We'll hear Sneve talk about her life as a writer and public school educator. Break 1 Music:  Song of Encouragement (song) Porcupine Singers (artist) Alowanpi – Songs of Honoring – Lakota Classics: Past & Present, Vol. 1 (album) Break 2 Music: Elle Danse [Boogat Remix] (song) Mimi O'Bonsawin (artist)

A recent agreement between a gold mining company and the Shoshone Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation is being called “historic” by its chairman. The mining company president says the agreement follows the standards set by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and gives the tribe a share of the profits from the mine. The company and tribal officials are optimistic this will set a precedent for how mining companies partner with tribes. At the same time as the agreement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposes to severely limit the power of tribes to interfere with construction of oil and natural gas pipelines and resource-guzzling data centers. GUESTS Chairman Brian Mason (Shoshone Paiute) Maranda Compton (Delaware Tribe of Indians), founder and president of Lepwe Kate Finn (Osage), founder and director of the Tallgrass Institute James Grijalva, professor of law at the University of North Dakota School of Law Melissa Kay, Tribal Water Institute fellow at the Native American Rights Fund Break 1 Music: Healing Song (song) Judy Trejo (artist) Circle Dance Songs of the Paiute and Shoshone (album) Break 2 Music: Elle Danse [Boogat Remix] (song) Mimi O'Bonsawin (artist)

In Los Angeles, Chicago, and now Minneapolis, activists, community leaders, and concerned neighbors have organized loose-knit networks of support for what they believe will be a protracted resistance effort against the crackdowns by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The Powwow Grounds Coffeehouse in Minneapolis is among the locations collecting food, cash, and other support for those filling the streets with whistles, drums, and their own voices. Doing so carries risk. ICE agents shot and killed one person. Many more are injured. At least one Minneapolis restaurant fended off ICE agents who attempted to enter. We'll hear from Native organizers in cities around the country about what they expect in the weeks and months ahead. GUESTS Robert Rice (White Earth Nation), owner of Pow Wow Grounds Courtney Cochran (Anishinaabe), artist, filmmaker, and community organizer Jennifer Marley (San Ildefonso), community organizer and a member of the Total Sovereignty Working Group Eva Cardenas (Mexica Chicana of Mazahua and Zapotec descent), director of organizing for the NDN Collective, the LANDBACK action network Joel Garcia (Huichol), artist, cultural organizer, and director of Meztli Projects Break 1 Music: Hope [Featuring Werner Erb] (song) Sihasin (artist) Never Surrender (album) Break 2 Music: Elle Danse [Boogat Remix] (song) Mimi O'Bonsawin (artist)

The village of Kwigillingok, Alaska is at a crossroads after flooding, fueled by a serious Bearing Sea storm, washed away 50 houses, killing three residents. The storm is one of the increasingly frequent and increasingly severe storms to pummel the area. Combined with thawing permafrost and rising sea levels, village leaders are pushing to move — a plan that state and Native regional corporation officials reject. Recent flooding in Washington State also has tribal officials assessing their options. There too, major flooding — what used to be a once-in-a-lifetime event — threatens residents' lives and property and the natural viability of the rivers than once sustained life for local tribes. We'll get updates about the effects of increasing floods and the difficult choices tribal officials face. GUESTS Daniel Paul (Yup'ik), tribal president for the Village of Kipnuk Gavin Phillip (Yup'ik), tribal administrator for the Village of Kwigillingok Darrel John (Yup'ik), community school advocate Joseph Pavel (Skokomish), director of natural resources for the Skokomish Indian Tribe Guillaume Mauger, Washington state climatologist and research scientist at the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group Break 1 Music: Uangilaa (song) Susan Aglukark (artist) The Crossing (album) Break 2 Music: Elle Danse [Boogat Remix] (song) Mimi O'Bonsawin (artist)

This year is the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the federal law that promised equal access to voting regardless of race or religion. The document was a milestone in the movement championed by Martin Luther King, Jr. Among the actions that prompted the legislation was a series of violent confrontations between protestors and officials intent on preventing their progress, including law enforcement officers' attack on hundreds of marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. Many civil rights advocates say the country is now dismantling the progress that King devoted his life to that has helped Native Americans and so many others. GUESTS Dr. Sandy Grande (Quechua), professor of political science and Native American and Indigenous Studies at the University of Connecticut Nick Tilsen (Oglala Lakota), founder and CEO of the NDN Collective Wenona Singel (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians) Caroline LaPorte (Little River Band of Ottawa Indians descendant), staff attorney with the Indian Law Resource Center and associate judge for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Break 1 Music: Leadership Song [Naaí'áanii Biyiin] (song) Radmilla Cody (artist) K'é Hasin (album) Break 2 Music: Elle Danse [Boogat Remix] (song) Mimi O’Bonsawin (artist)

Dakota Louis’ (Northern Cheyenne) family bull riding roots go back five generations. His father was a two-time champion at the Indian Finals Rodeo. Now, Louis is a top competitor at the same rodeo and other events around the country. He hopes to pass down his skills and inspiration to a younger generation on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana where he grew up. On the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina, Jade Blankenship (Colville Tribes/Eastern Band of Cherokee) opened a spa and boutique with her sister. Together they are sharing their business knowledge with budding Native entrepreneurs. They are among the names on this year’s 40 under 40 list by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. We’ll hear from some of the Native people on a variety of career paths recognized for their contributions to their communities. GUESTS Dakota Louis (Northern Cheyenne, Cree, and Blackfeet), professional bull rider Jade Blankenship (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Spokane and Eastern Band of Cherokee), co-owner of Indigenous Boutique and Spa and founder of UWENA Corey Hinton (Passamaquoddy), attorney at Drummond Woodsum Michael Charles (Diné), assistant professor in the department of Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University Break 1 Music: Rodeo Song [Skip Dance Song] (song) Sweethearts of Navajoland (artist) From the Heart of Diné Nation Traditional Songs of the Navajo (album) Break 2 Music: Vipismal – The Hummingbird Song (song) Earl Ray (artist) Traditional Songs Of The Salt River Pima (album)

The U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has prompted questions about what comes next. No one is more concerned about the answer to that question than Venezuela's Wayúu people and the other Indigenous tribes that make up as much as 3% of the population. They are no fans of Maduro, enduring the same oppressive tactics as other residents, contributing to disproportionate socio-economic hurdles. They are also suffering at the hands of both legal and illegal mining operations. What will President Donald Trump's stated interests in gas and mineral development mean going forward? GUESTS Alicia Moncada (Wayúu), director of advocacy and communications for Cultural Survival Carlos Roa, journalist and editor for IQ Latino and a member and spokesperson with Asociación de Periodistas Venezolanos en el Extranjero / Association of Venezuelan Journalists Abroad (APEVEX) Alejandro Velasco, professor of Latin American history at New York University Laura Botero, PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin

A recent decision by the U.S. Treasury Department is a major win for tribes. For the first time, tribes are on the same level as states when it comes to determining how tribal services are taxed. Advocates call the decision “historic” and say it is a significant breakthrough in tribal sovereignty. Not only will it allow tribes to keep hundreds of millions of dollars more per year, it removes the tax filing hassle for small contractors who work with tribes. We'll hear about the decade-long push to change what is called the General Welfare Exclusion and what it means for tribal economic development. GUESTS Chief Lynn Malerba (Mohegan), Former U.S. Treasurer Lt. Gov. Hershel Gorham (Cheyenne and Arapaho) OJ Semans Sr. (Rosebud Sioux), co-executive director of Four Directions Vote Scott Skaro (Standing Rock Sioux), board member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the financial aid director for United Tribes Technical College Break 1 Music: C.R.E.A.M. [Instrumental] (song) Wu-Tang Clan (artist) Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers [Instrumentals] (album) Break 2 Music: Vipismal – The Hummingbird Song (song) Earl Ray (artist) Traditional Songs Of The Salt River Pima (album)

Organizers in Chicago just broke ground on a 45-unit affordable housing project specifically for Native Americans that is scheduled to open this year. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians just cut the ribbon in October for 40 new affordable housing units in Salem, Oreg. And Oakland, Calif. is working on 76 new homes for low-income Native Americans attached to a Native health facility. The surge in projects specifically geared toward urban Native Americans is meant to offset barriers that disproportionately affect their ability to keep a roof over their heads. We’ll hear about the factors fueling the surge in new affordable housing projects in various cities. GUESTS Shelly Tucciarelli (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), executive director of Visionary Ventures NFP Corp. and vice president of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative Sky Waters (Osage), community development director at the Native American Youth and Family Center Anthony Guzman (Northern Ute), chief cultural officer at the Native American Health Center Bryan Singer (Crow), entrepreneur development specialist for the Montana Department of Commerce Indian Country Economic Development programs and member of the Mountain Shadow Association board Break 1 Music: Journey Home (song) Susan Aglukark (artist) The Crossing (album) Break 2 Music: Vipismal – The Hummingbird Song (song) Earl Ray (artist) Traditional Songs Of The Salt River Pima (album)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are accused of forcefully dragging a Native American man from car and detaining him during the increasing tensions in Minneapolis, Minn. More than 2,000 ICE agents and other federal officers descended on the city in what the Trump administration insists is an immigration enforcement action. At least five Native Americans have been detained, several others have had confrontations with ICE agents. The crackdown is roundly condemned by local and state community leaders. We'll talk to some of those caught up in the action and what more might be in store elsewhere. We’ll also hear from the leader of Virginia’s Rappahannock Tribe about their opposition to a plan by county officials to use 9,000,000 gallons of water from the tribe’s namesake river for a proposed data center, a plan that tribal leaders say was drafted without proper consultation. GUESTS Little Crow Bellecourt (Bad River), executive director of Indigenous Protector Movement Shawntia Sosa-Clara (Red Lake Nation descendant), aunt to Jose Ramirez Amelia Schafer (Brothertown Indian Nation descendant), North Central Bureau correspondent for ICT News Chief Anne Richardson (Rappahannock) Break 1 Music: 500 Years O' Blues (song) Digging Roots (artist) Seeds (album) Break 2 Music: Vipismal – The Hummingbird Song (song) Earl Ray (artist) Traditional Songs Of The Salt River Pima (album)

The celebrations of the country's independence are not the same for Native Americans. As a year of events, re-enactments, seminars, and commemorative coin creation gets under way to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, many Native Americans are asking where they stand in the historical narrative. Some states have developed dialogues with tribes as they plan out the year's events. Some tribes have a more direct connection to the resulting Revolutionary War than others. We'll get an idea what Native citizens are anticipating as the country collectively honors what it calls “the Founding Fathers”. GUESTS Darren Bonaparte (Akwesasne Mohawk), director of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's tribal historic preservation office Andrei Jacobs (Orutsararmuit Native Council), former director of Tribal Partnerships for America250, freelance consultant, and content creator Robert Lilligren (White Earth Ojibwe Nation), chair of the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors of Minneapolis and president and CEO of the Native American Community Development Institute Break 1 Music: Water by Jim Pepper [Arranged by Jhoely Garay] (song) Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band (artist) Live at Joe's Pub, NYC on January 13th, 2024 (performance) Break 2 Music: Put Your Feathers On (song) Blue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree (artist) Get Your Feathers Ready (Album)

The U.S. Postal Service just implemented a seemingly minor rule that is worrying Native American voting rights advocates. They and others say it is among a number of changes that add to the barriers Native voters face getting their ballots counted come this November. The new rule changes when mail, including mail-in ballots, are postmarked, shortening the time frame for when the ballots are deemed valid. It applies most directly to voters in states with large Native populations, including California, Arizona, and New Mexico along with nearly a dozen others. We'll talk with Native voting rights advocates about this rule change and other challenges to the Native voting access in 2026. GUESTS Jacqueline de León (Isleta Pueblo), senior staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund OJ Semans Sr. (Rosebud Sioux), co-executive director of Four Directions Vote Jonnette Paddy (Navajo), communications associate for Indigenous Voices of Nevada Michelle Sparck (Qissunamiut Tribe of Chevak), director of Get Out the Native Vote Break 1 Music:  Get Up Stand Up (song) Bailey Wiley, Che Fu, King Kapisi, Laughton Kora, Maisey Rika & Tiki Taane (artist) Break 2 Music: Put Your Feathers On (song) Blue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree (artist) Get Your Feathers Ready (Album)

Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne) is remembered as an effective congressional leader who passionately advocated for Native American issues. He served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Among other things, he was instrumental in the political advocacy for establishing the National Museum of the American Indians (NMAI). Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho) was a national voice in support of Native American arts. A large part of his career was as a police sketch artist. He also headed the Indian Arts and Crafts Board for a decade. A former U.S. Marine, he was an advocate for military veterans. His design for a Native American Veterans Memorial was chosen and built on the NMAI campus in 2022. GUESTS Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee), president of the Morning Star Institute and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Rick West (Cheyenne and Arapaho), founding director and director emeritus of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian Shanan Campbell (Northern Cheyenne), founder and CEO of Sorrel Sky Galleries and daughter of Ben Nighthorse Campbell Gina Pratt (Muscogee and Yuchi), wife of Harvey Pratt Nathan Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho), artist and son of Harvey Pratt Dee Cordry, former Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and author of “Children of White Thunder” Break 1 Music: I Walk with You (song) Joseph Fire Crow (artist) Face the Music (album) Break 2 Music: Put Your Feathers On (song) Blue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree (artist) Get Your Feathers Ready (Album)

Anishinaabe call the cluster of seven stars in the winter sky Bugonagiizhig, or “Hole in the Sky”. Navajos say it is Dilyéhé, or “Sparkling.” And Senecas say it is the Seven Dancers. On conventional Western star maps, the cluster is known as the Pleiades, a name that refers to Greek mythology. Prominent during winter months, these stars bookmark the winter season and are important symbols for many tribes' origin stories. We'll hear about those stories and the teachings connected to the Pleiades. GUESTS Michael Waasegiizhig Price (Wikwemikong First Nation), Anishinaabe culture and language keeper Cal Nez (Navajo), fine arts artist and graphic designer, Navajo spiritualist Jamie Jacobs (Tonawanda Seneca), managing curator for the Rock Foundation collections at the Rochester Museum and Science Center Break 1 Music: Starry Night (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album) Break 2 Music: Put Your Feathers On (song) Blue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree (artist) Get Your Feathers Ready (Album)

Elaine Miles (Cayuse and Nez Perce) didn't seek out her breakout role as the humorously deadpan Lingít office manager Marilyn Whirlwind in the hit TV show, “Northern Exposure“, but after she was cast and became a beloved addition to the show, acting was her vocation from then on. She had a hilarious presence in the classic movie, “Smoke Signals“, and just appeared on the acclaimed HBO series, “The Last of Us“. Behind the scenes, Miles is an advocate for Indigenous rights and a steady voice of support for Native veterans. She is our January Native In The Spotlight. Break 1 Music: Mama (song) LOV (artist) Mama (single) Break 2 Music: Put Your Feathers On (song) Blue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree (artist) Get Your Feathers Ready (Album)

Whether you view the New Year as a good time for a hard reboot or just a few tweaks here and there, a few words of encouragement can't hurt. A lot of people see January as the time to launch a new exercise routine or start being a more patient parent. It doesn't necessarily take an established place of worship or hours in a quiet room to engage with your own internal strengths. We have a panel of experts in mindfulness and using one's own cultural connections to help stay on a more positive and meaningful path. GUESTS D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas (Odawa), motivational storyteller, host of the PBS special, “Discovering your Warrior Spirit”, and author of “Warrior Within” from Penguin Random House Michael Yellow Bird (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara), professor at the faculty of social work at the University of Manitoba Eduardo Duran (Apache, Tewa, and Lakota), psychologist and author of “Healing the Soul Wound” Break 1 Music: On the Road Missing Home [Corn Dance] (song) Sheldon Sundown (artist) Hand Drum/Smoke N' Round Dance (album) Break 2 Music: Oshki Manitou (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)