Native America Calling - The Electronic Talking Circle

Today marks the 30th anniversary of Native America Calling's first national radio broadcast. Started in the studios in Albuquerque public radio station, KUNM, NAC has been the daily voice for Native issues, politics, entertainment, and arts ever since. Tribal leaders, activists, educators, bureaucrats, aunties, presidents, and everyday people have all made their way onto the airwaves on NAC, all with one common thread: to talk about the things that are important to Native Americans from a Native point of view. We'll mark the occasion by hearing from some of the voices associated with Native America Calling over the years.

The increase in highly publicized deportations is unnerving both undocumented and documented migrants in the United States. Indigenous people from other countries, some who have visas or are awaiting decisions from immigration proceedings, are among those caught up in the Trump administration's focus on mass deportations. Many of those who remain say they live in fear of being apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The New York Times reports immigration actions appear to have ramped up in May. The top deportation destination are Guatemala and Honduras, places where Indigenous people are fleeing violence and poverty. We'll talk with people working with migrants about what is happening on the ground and what is different than actions in the past.

Three Alaska Native tribes filed a lawsuit to stop a controversial gold mining operation east of Nome. The tribes say a permit just granted by the U.S. Corps of Engineers will allow the destruction of salmon habitat and other important environmental elements in a pristine estuary. The mining process involves extracting ore from material dredged from river and ocean beds. On the other side of the state, residents of Wrangell are concerned about a gold mine just over the border in Canada. A new report finds heavy metals in groundwater on the Alaska side.

David A. Robertson (Norway House Cree Nation) gives us 52 practical suggestions — one for each week of the year — to support and connect with Indigenous people. 52 Ways to Reconcile lists tasks as simple and enjoyable as making Bannock, to as challenging as taking personal action toward reconciliation. Matthew Fletcher (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians) has devoted himself to the legal profession, becoming one of the most respected experts in Indian Law. In his spare time he has written and published a collection of fictional short stories, Stick Houses. He draws from his own observations and stories from his family to illustrate the lives of modern Native Americans. We'll add Matthew Fletcher's Stick Houses, and David A. Robertson's 52 Ways to Reconcile to the Native Bookshelf.

President Donald Trump's proposed spending plan, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” would cut about $300 billion from the program that provides food to low-income residents. If it survives Congress intact, thousands of Native people will lose eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Tribes and conservation groups worry the Trump administration's push for expanded logging of federal land poses a threat to Indigenous foods, like salmon. Nicole Livingston is one of a handful of students who graduated this semester from the only tribal college culinary arts program at Navajo Technical University. She's off to an internship at the country's most renown Indigenous restaurant: Owamni by the Sioux Chef. We'll talk about these topics on The Menu, our regular feature on Indigenous food sovereignty hosted by Andi Murphy.

Tornados and other severe storms that stretched across three states killed nearly 30 people this month. Before that, storms left at least 37 people dead and damaged hundreds of homes. Early warnings are key to saving lives during tornados and other damaging weather events. We'll talk with people who are part of the process to spot severe weather and get the word out when minutes save lives.

The 3,300-member Chinook Tribe in Washington State just scrapped their support of legislation for federal recognition tribal leaders had been working on for more than two years. The rejection comes after the key author of the bill added a series of onerous conditions at the last minute. A handful of other tribes around the country are working through the long, complicated process to secure recognition. Meanwhile, efforts to follow through on President Donald Trump's promise of federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe is encountering criticism from other tribes who say the process ignores important considerations that most other tribes have to contend with. We'll get status updates on tribes awaiting federal recognition.

The Trump administration cut a quarter of the staff at Haskell Indian Nations University in February. A little over a month later a judge reinstated those positions. Even though the jobs at Haskell and other Bureau of Indian Education schools were restored, uncertainty over the future of those institutions prevails. Similar anxiety accompanies dozens of other important programs and institutions including libraries, museums, low-income heat assistance, and Medicaid. We'll get updates from places feeling the effects of fast-changing federal support.

More than 42,000 Native Americans served in the military during the Vietnam War, the vast majority as volunteers. They faced racist and stereotypical taunts from fellow service members. After their service, veterans suffered psychological and emotional trauma at a higher rate than other populations. As the nation marks 50 years since the fall of Saigon and the end of the war, we'll hear from Native Vietnam veterans about what the conflict means to them now. This is an encore show so we won't be taking live calls from listeners.

On the eve of the five-year commemoration of George Floyd's death, the Trump administration is withdrawing Department of Justice (DOJ) oversight for police departments in Minneapolis, Phoenix, Louisville, and other cities where the DOJ previously found civil rights violations against Native Americans and other people of color. Floyd's murder by a Minneapolis police officer prompted global calls for accountability for long standing inequities. Now, Native American racial justice advocates say any progress toward improving unbalanced treatment by law enforcement agencies is stalled, at best. We'll assess the direction of racial equity in the criminal justice system over the five years since George Floyd's high-profile death.

The federal government is poised to open up an extra 112 million acres of land to cover what Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins labels an “emergency”. Tribes concerned about sacred places, wildlife habitat, and conservation complain they were left out of the decision-making process to get here. And while there's potentially opportunities for tribes that look to logging for economic development, many worry about how the expedited federal push will affect the market for timber. We'll talk with experts from the timber industry about balancing production, land management, and economics.

One out of every ten children in Oklahoma's foster care system are Cherokee citizens. Cherokee leadership's message for National Foster Care Awareness Month is that Native foster parents are vital to finding solutions that work best for Native children. The Cherokee Nation is among the many tribes working to build a strong system of support for foster children and foster parents. The effort comes as many Native child advocates warn of a potential increase in need as federal social service programs are disappearing.

The San Carlos Apache Tribe is fighting to stop the planned June 16, 2025 transfer to the sacred Oak Flat land in Arizona to the companies that intend to turn it into a copper mine. There's a flurry of activity around the ongoing fight over the land, known to the Apache as Chi'chil Biłdagoteel. The Trump Administration announced its intention to rush the land swap involving 2,400 acres of land to hasten the two mile wide open pit mine. A federal judge this month halted the transfer, saying the tribes have a prevailing interest. San Carlos Apache just requested an injunction to stop any movement until the legal issues are settled. We'll also get perspectives on what needs to be considered if, as President Donald Trump suggests, the federal government moves ahead with re-opening the prison on Alcatraz Island in California. GUESTS Naelyn Pike (enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache), spokesperson of the Apache stronghold Su:k Chu:vak Fulwilder (Onk Akimel O'odham, Xalchidom Piipaash, Tlingit, Aleut and Little Lake Pomo), council member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Morning Star Gali (Pit River Tribe), executive director of Indigenous Justice

Natalie Benally (Diné) knew early on she was a performer. She has channeled her determined creative spirit in any number of disciplines for the stage and screen. She has performed and taught dance after honing her craft at Fort Lewis College in Colorado. Along the way, she has embodied enduring characters in film and television, including Natalie Bluehouse on the AMC series, Dark Winds, and was the delightful voice of Dory, in the Navajo version of "Finding Nemo". She is also the driving force behind her own production company, Tse'Nato'. Natalie Benally is the May Native in the Spotlight.

Two musicians with Diné roots give audiences distinctly different takes on their desert Southwest origins. The Phoenix-based band Mogley and the Zoniez have built their sound playing for years in the Southwest café and bar circuit. The melodic and energetic indie-alt sound and distinctive vocals have become a favorite for a growing number of fans. They have a new EP to add to their set list, Better Late Than Never. We'll hear from lead singer Quenton Oney about how they reach their audience and what's next. Hataałii's new album, "I'll Be Around", is an affirming and beautifully dark low-fi project. He ditched the professional studio route for a DIY production in a shed in Albuquerque. The result is a personal and intimate set of songs sure to find far-reaching resonance.

More than 42,000 Native Americans served in the military during the Vietnam War, the vast majority as volunteers. They faced racist and stereotypical taunts from fellow service members. After their service, veterans suffered psychological and emotional trauma at a higher rate than other populations. As the nation marks 50 years since the fall of Saigon and the end of the war, we'll hear from Native Vietnam veterans about what the conflict means to them now.

Tribal wildlife officials are trying to get a handle on the seemingly unstoppable increase in chronic wasting disease among large game animals. Now in at least three dozen states, the disease is always fatal for the deer, elk, and moose that contract it. Some public health officials are also cautioning about the potential for it to make the jump to humans. At the same time, measles cases have jumped over 1,000 in the United States. Decades after the highly contagious and easily preventable disease was all but eradicated, measles comes at at time when skepticism of scientifically proven vaccines is at an all time high. We'll find out what wildlife managers and public health officials say about the threats from these two illnesses.

A tool to help finance housing, business, and other community development projects on tribal land is in President Donald Trump's crosshairs. President Trump's executive order eliminates funding for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI). It's unclear what the order means in practicality. His budget reduces federal funding for CDFIs by almost $300 million. If the cuts to CDFIs are realized, it could significantly curtail progress on affordable housing, small businesses, green energy, and other projects.

Indigenous leaders are forcefully denouncing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's rhetoric inviting the idea of separating from Canada. The province includes wide swaths of treaty territory established through agreements with the federal government. First Nations leaders say there is no way to even enter the conversation of separation without first consulting with the tribes. The unprecedented talk of separation comes as President Donald Trump insists on promoting the unlikely scenario of the U.S. annexing Canada. We'll learn about First Nations authority in Alberta and the sovereignty questions the separation discussions raise.

Ojibwe (Red Cliff) journalist Mary Annette Pember puts her own family's boarding school experiences on display in her new book, “Medicine River: A Story of Survival and the Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools.” Pember builds from her relationship with her mother, a boarding school survivor, to offer personal insights into the origins and effects of generational trauma. She also documents her path to journalism and how one non-Native editor's refusal to cover Native issues drove her to become one of country's most trusted Native storytellers. We'll hear from Pember and also get an update from the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition on what changes in federal government mean for the future of addressing past boarding school abuses. GUESTS Mary Annette Pember (Red Cliff Ojibwe), national correspondent for ICT News and author of “Medicine River” Fallon Carey (Cherokee Nation), digital archives manager for the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition

New Mexico is the latest of more than 20 states to formally recognize Native American students' right to express their cultural heritage at graduation ceremonies. Those expressions are typically in the form of eagle feathers, beadwork, moccasins, or other traditional dress worn during the ceremony with gowns and mortarboard caps. But many Native students elsewhere continue to face resistance from school boards and administrators. One Wyoming school principal told a student if he "let one minority do it, then I'd have to let the rest." We'll recognize this year's graduating seniors and get up to speed on the ongoing fight over ceremonial regalia.

As the state of New York works to eliminate school mascots with Native American names and imagery, they have run into a powerful adversary: the federal government. The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into whether the state is violating the civil rights of Long Island's Massapequa School District by forcing them to change their “Chiefs” mascot. President Donald Trump personally weighed in, expressing his support for keeping the mascot. A lawyer for the school says the issue is “the battleground for the preservation of our history and values nationwide.” We'll hear about the issues at play in New York and how it affects other efforts by other states and cities to end offensive Native mascots. GUESTS Ted Trujillo (Passamaquoddy), enrolled member of the Passamaquoddy tribe John Kane (Mohawk), Host of Resistance Radio on WBAI in NYC and WPFW in Washington, D.C. David Glass (enrolled member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe), president of the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media Melissa Candelaria (San Felipe Pueblo), education director of the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and member of the plaintiff's legal team for Yazzie/Martinez v. State of New Mexico

After decades of attempts by some political leaders to curtail or end federal funding for broadcasting, public media faces what PBS CEO Paula Kerger says is the most serious threat in its history. President Donald Trump's order to end funding for NPR and PBS potentially has profound implications for everything from the existence of some rural Alaska stations to Native-language programs on tribal stations (and the continuation of Native America Calling). We'll get another update on how the fight for public funding for Native American broadcasting is playing out.

After the initial grief of losing her daughter to a hit-and-run driver on the Flathead Indian Reservation, Carissa HeavyRunner faced months of inaction by local law enforcement to adequately investigate and charge the person responsible. Her frustration grew into a personal mission to see justice served. HeavyRunner's story is one of the chief complaints by Native Americans who have lost a loved one and wake up every day without any progress toward getting any answers. We'll learn about some outstanding Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) cases and the effort to improve the statistics in spite of law enforcement foot-dragging.

An exhibition at The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta celebrates the work of the Indigenous Group of Seven, influential Indigenous artists who, over a period of decades, pushed a new definition of Native art in Canada. We'll also highlight exhibitions honoring contemporary and up-and-coming Native American artists including the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture exhibition, "Homelands: Connecting to Mounds through Native Art", and the Institute of American Indian Art's annual showcase of work by the visual arts graduating class. GUESTS Joseph Sánchez, artist, former curator for IAIA's Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, member of the Indigenous Group of Seven, and co-curator of “The Ancestors Are Talking” exhibit at The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies Kayla Wanatee (Meskwaki Tribe), multi-disciplinary artist and a spring 2025 IAIA Bachelor's of Fine Arts graduate Kassidy Plyler (Catawba), artist and cultural public programs specialist for the Catawba Nation

Among the 168 people killed in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City was Raymond Lee Johnson (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma). He was volunteering with the Older Native American Program at the time and was heavily involved in education and other issues important to Native people. Cherokee Ballard was a television news anchor and reporter who covered the aftermath and the subsequent trials. And FBI special agent Walter Lamar was on the scene that day helping rescue survivors. He was also part of the FBI's investigation into the bombing. We'll hear stories about how the bombing affected the city with one of the highest percentages of Native citizens in the nation. GUESTS Walter Lamar (Blackfeet and Wichita), founder of Lamar Associates and former FBI special agent Anne Marshall (Muscogee), council representative for the Muscogee Creek Nation Cherokee Ballard (Cherokee), communications director for the Oklahoma County Clerk and former news anchor and reporter

Greg Biskakone Johnson (Lac du Flambeau), an experienced spearfisher and his tribe's culture and language instructor, was helping an elder stock up on walleye when four gunshots rang out through the dark night last week. That and other incidents prompted Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) to issue a statement about the state's responsibility to uphold treaty fishing rights. The incidents come 30 years after the violent confrontations in the state known as ‘The Walleye Wars.” Among the $1 billion in grants for schools and food programs rescinded by the Trump administration is a $750,000 USDA grant for Day Eagle Hope Project. The non-profit runs a food pantry and food delivery service on the Ft. Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. We'll hear from its director about the program's future.

This year marks 100 years since Mount Rushmore was dedicated as a national monument. The stone butte carved with the faces of four presidents has become a patriotic symbol. But the federal government's broken treaties to take over the land is only the beginning of the famous monument's troubled history. We'll hear about Rushmore's connection to the Confederate South and the ongoing insult of honoring leaders who contributed to efforts to eliminate the sacred land's original inhabitants.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. promises a “massive testing and research effort” to find the cause of autism. Sec. Kennedy says it will happen by September. That ambitious promise alone, and other comments by Kennedy, are met with skepticism and even backlash by autism advocates and experts. Meanwhile, groups like Diné Parents Taking Action at Northern Arizona University are putting the work in to provide support and raise awareness when it comes to autism among Native Americans and other underserved communities. We'll go over some of the facts about autism and how the disorder is being addressed among Native people. GUESTS Jules Edwards (Anishinaabe), author and disability justice advocate Dr. Davis Henderson (Diné), associate professor with Northern Arizona University Dr. Candi Running Bear (Diné), assistant professor at Western New Mexico University  Dr. Olivia Lindly, assistant professor at Northern Arizona University

It's a Native America Calling tradition to invite Pueblo musician Jir Anderson and his troupe of songwriters into the studio to play live during their run in Albuquerque. Native Guitars Tour always presents a diverse set of musicians with a focus on guitars. We'll hear about what's new with the tour and listen to some live music. GUESTS Jir Anderson (Cochiti Pueblo), lead singer for the Jir Project and founder of Native Guitars Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo), musician Ailani (Santa Clara Pueblo), singer/songwriter Welby June (Oglala Lakota, Muscogee, Ho-Chunk, and Cheyenne), fashion coordinator for Native Guitars Tour Christy Bird (Santa Domingo Pueblo), fashion coordinator

As scores of talented musicians and artists assemble in Albuquerque during the Gathering of Nations Powwow, we'll sample some of the musical offerings happening on stages around town. We begin with two established and popular shows featuring hip-hop and metal music: the Gathering of MCs and Merciless Savages. We'll talk with organizers from each of the shows and take in some of the new music and some old favorites. GUESTS Franklin Yazzie (Diné), vocalist for Under Exile Randall Hoskie (Diné), promotor of the Merciless Savages shows Nataanii Means (Oglala Lakota, Omaha, and Diné), hip-hop artist, motivational speaker, and Indigenous advocate Def-I (Diné), hip-hop artist, and MC and co-host of the Gathering of MCs

The PBS program "Frontline" examines the financial, cultural, and human toll of climate change on the western Alaska coastline and the Native people that have always called it home. Hopi producer Patty Talahongva takes a fresh look at the warming temperatures, increasingly destructive storms, and retreating wildlife that are forcing a drastic change in how some Alaska Native live. We'll hear about the issue from those involved in the documentary. GUESTS Patty Talahongva (Hopi), correspondent, writer, director, and producer of "Alaska's Vanishing Native Villages" Agatha Napoleon (Paimiut), climate change program coordinator Edgar Tall Sr. (Yup'ik), Chief of the Native Village of Hooper Bay

Tribes that rely on Colorado River water — and the complex set of rules that govern it — are worried about how President Donald Trump's executive orders and the ongoing legal questions about them will affect their water access. President Trump froze federal funds for the Inflation Reduction Act. Even after a judge reinstated those funds, tribes are concerned about the viability of some water conservation efforts going forward. Those water access issues are becoming increasingly important because of long-term trends showing significantly less water available in the basin. GUESTS Heather Whiteman Runs Him (Apsáalooke), associate clinical professor at the James E. Rogers College of Law and director of the Tribal Justice Clinic at the University of Arizona Jenny Dumas, water attorney for the Jicarilla Apache Nation Daryl Vigil (Jicarilla Apache Nation), co-director of the Water & Tribes Initiative Edward Wemytewa (Zuni), Pueblo of Zuni tribal councilman

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expediting permits for the Line 5 oil pipeline project. It's the first project to be put on a fast track under President Donald Trump's executive order declaring a national energy emergency. The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is among a number of tribes in at least three states that oppose the project by Canadian energy company Enbridge, saying it posing significant risk to the environment, most notably the Great Lakes. The existing pipeline runs across Bad River land, but the company's new route bypasses the reservation. We'll get a perspective on the new status of the project and the near-term possibilities. GUESTS David Gover (Pawnee and Choctaw), senior staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund Jennifer Smith, director of U.S. tribal engagement at Enbridge Stefanie Tsosie (Navajo), senior attorney in the Tribal Partnerships Program at Earthjustice

Elise Paschen's (Osage) new book of poetry, “Blood Wolf Moon”, weaves Osage stories from the Reign of Terror with her experience as the daughter of famous major prima ballerina, Maria Tallchief. m.s. RedCherries' (Northern Cheyenne) first poetry book, “mother”, was a 2024 National Book Award for Poetry finalist. It follows the Cheyenne protagonist who is exploring Indian identity as a former boarding school student reconnecting to her roots and larger Native community through the backdrop of the American Indian Movement. “Indigenous Poetics” is a collection of essays illustrating how Native poets use their craft as a critical tool to help readers understand, question, and realize deeper layers of Indigenous life and community. Aligning with National Poetry Month, we'll dive into these new and recent publications by Indigenous poets. GUESTS Dr. Elise Paschen (Osage), poet and author of “Blood Wolf Moon” Inés Hernández-Ávila (Nez Perce and enrolled with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation), co-editor of “Indigenous Poetics” with Molly McGlennen m.s. RedCherries (Northern Cheyenne Tribe), poet and author of “mother”

The state of Alaska is actively working to shut down a gaming hall just opened by the Native Village of Eklutna. The Chin'an Gaming Hall is doing a brisk business with pull-tabs and 85 bingo machines in an unassuming building just outside of Anchorage. But state officials maintain the operation is illegal because the tribe does not control the land it is on. Elsewhere, in Maine, tribes are also working against state resistance to expand gaming. They face a regulatory reality that is different from tribes in other states because of legislation in 1980 limiting Maine's tribes' gaming enterprise ability.

The Trump administration scrapped a civil rights agreement 14 years in the making with the Rapid City, S.D. school system. The agreement was aimed at correcting inequities for Native American students. Data show Native students in the district are given harsher punishments than their white counterparts. The students also are less likely to be in higher level classes. The decision comes as President Donald Trump has terminated nearly half of the federal Education Department's Office for Civil Rights staff. We'll also look at a Virginia tribe's suit against the commonwealth for what the tribe says is withholding Medicaid reimbursements for tribal citizens' health care. GUESTS Walt Swan Jr. (Miniconjou Lakota), Rapid City Area Schools board member and executive director of Friends of the Children – He Sapa Tyresha Grey Horse (Oglala Lakota), chair of Title VI Parent Advisory Committee for Rapid City Area Schools and program director of Friends of the Children – He Sapa Sarah White (Oglala Lakota), executive director of the South Dakota Education Equity Coalition Thomas Badamo (Nansemond), tribal council treasurer for the Nansemond Indian Nation  Jessie Barrington (Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians), attorney with Cultural Heritage Partners

The recent winter proved deadly for honey bee colonies. The Washington State University's Honey Bees and Pollinators Program reports mass die-offs for commercial beekeepers. Honey bees, butterflies, and even small vertebrates like bats and birds are important to agriculture and are indicators of a healthy ecosystem. Their populations fluctuate and are affected by pesticide use, habitat loss, and climate change. Tribes and Native groups like the Euchee Butterfly Farm are among those devoting resources to pollinator restoration work. We'll talk with Native pollinator protectors about efforts to help turn the threat to pollinators around. GUESTS Nathan Moses-Gonzales (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation), entomologist and CEO of M3 Agriculture Technologies Jane Breckinridge (Muscogee and Euchee), director of the Euchee Butterfly Farm and the Tribal Alliance for Pollinators Melanie Kirby (Tortugas Pueblo), professional beekeeper, founder of Zia Queen Bees Farm and Field Institute, extension educator and pollinator specialist at IAIA, and a founder of Poeh Povi Flower Path Network Pam Kingfisher (Cherokee Nation), beekeeper and water protector

At least one tribal library in New Mexico will have to close after the Trump Administration abruptly canceled federal grants administered through the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Many more libraries and museums in the state and around the country are forced to cut hours, eliminate staff, cancel traditional programs, and curb purchases for new books and other materials. They are among the latest in the on-going efforts by the Trump Administration to drastically change federal services. Those cuts also include supplements to low-income Navajo Nation citizens and hundreds more Native Americans nationwide who rely on the funds to help them heat their homes in the winter. We'll get the latest rundown of staff and funding reductions by the federal government. GUESTS Dr. April Counceller (Alutiiq tribal member of the Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak), executive director of the Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository Cassandra Osterloh (Cherokee Nation), New Mexico State Library tribal libraries program coordinator Alicia Allard, tribal Head Start consultant and specialist for Little Hawk Consulting Jill Falcon Ramaker (Turtle Mountain Anishinaabe), assistant professor in Indigenous food systems and land practices and director of Buffalo Nations Food Sovereignty at Montana State University Andrea Pesina (Isleta Pueblo), executive director of Isleta Head Start & Child Care and president of the National Indian Head Start Directors Association

Early Pueblo residents are known for their complex, multi-level dwellings that date back centuries, but continue to influence architectural design today. A new exhibit at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center examines the enduring elements of ancestral architecture and how contemporary Pueblo architects are reclaiming them. Modern designs fell victim to non-Native interpretations and modern building codes. The exhibit, “Restorying Our HeartPlaces: Contemporary Pueblo Architecture”, tells the story of how Pueblos are asserting their sovereignty over their enduring architectural knowledge. GUESTS Dr. Ted Jojola (Isleta Pueblo), co-curator of the exhibit and founder and director of the Indigenous Design + Planning Institute at the University of New Mexico Brian Vallo (Acoma Pueblo), former governor of Acoma Pueblo, independent consultant, and board member for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Charelle Brown (Santa Domingo Pueblo), advisory board member for exhibit, intern architect with Woven Architecture, and grad student in the masters of architecture program at the University of New Mexico Dr. Lynn Paxson, co-curator of the exhibit, university professor emeritus in architecture in the College of Design at Iowa State University and an affiliate of the Indigenous Design + Planning Institute at the University of New Mexico

Tens of thousands of federal job cuts, on-again, off-again tariffs on everyday goods, and policies affecting the operations of schools, businesses, and tribal governments are generating widespread uncertainty. Tribal leaders are working proactively to both influence decisions at the federal level and to prepare for inevitable changes. We'll talk with tribal leaders about how they are adapting to the unpredictable and dramatic changes headed their way. GUESTS Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais (Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah) U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. is overseeing an unprecedented cut of nearly a quarter of the department's staff, drawing widespread concerns about possible adverse affects for thousands of Native Americans who depend on those services. Everything from bill processing to testing and research to prevent lead contamination in children could be constricted. At the same time, Sec. Kennedy successfully reversed Elon Musk's termination of 900 Indian Health Service employees by the Department of Government Efficiency. Kennedy is also reaching out to tribes and maintaining contact through the department's Tribal Self Governance Advisory Committee. We'll look at the latest word on what some of the potential effects of the federal actions are on Native health and health care. GUESTS A.C. Locklear (Lumbee), CEO of the National Indian Health Board Kristen Bitsuie (Navajo), tribal health care outreach and education policy manager for the National Indian Health Board Kim Russell (Navajo), policy advisor for Sage Memorial Hospital

Philanthropy matches a donor's passion with an organization's drive to make a difference. It is an arrangement that helps build equity in areas that are not served by profit-driven interests. Philanthropy becomes even more important during times of financial uncertainty and government austerity. We'll get a view of the current directions for philanthropic giving and what the new pressures to fill the gaps. GUESTS Erik Stegman (Carry the Kettle First Nation), CEO of Native Americans in Philanthropy Gina Jackson (Western Shoshone and Oglala Lakota), co-founder and CEO of the Return to the Heart Foundation

Cherokee Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. calls the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEA) “one of the singular accomplishments of this country”. The legislation championed by President Richard Nixon opened the doors to tribal control over their own health care, law enforcement, natural resources management and economic development. We'll look at the progress since ISDEA, and what tribes intend to strengthen self-governance in the future. GUESTS W. Ron Allen (Jamestown S'klallam), tribal chairman for the Jamestown S'klallam Tribe Jay Spaan (Cherokee), executive director of the Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium Laura Harris (Comanche), executive director for Americans for Indian Opportunity

In Larissa FastHorse's (Sičháŋǧu Lakota) new play, a nonprofit works to accommodate “race shifters”, people who are compelled to change the ethnicity they're born with. “Fake it Until You Make It” is a satirical look at the serious topic of Native identity, helped out by a talented cast and Indigenous-grounded writing. The new children's TV puppet series, Navajo Highways, is making the rounds on screens across the Southwest. Written and directed by Pete Sands (Diné), the show follows young Sadie from her urban home to her introduction to Navajo land, culture, language and food. With a nod to the popular PBS show, Sesame Street, it's filled with characters Native audiences will find familiar. It's slated for public distribution on FNX. GUESTS Larissa FastHorse (Sičháŋǧu Lakota), playwright Pete Sands (Diné), writer and director of “Navajo Highways” Kimberly Kee (Diné), tribal early childhood specialist and she plays Ms. Pete

Indigenous business leaders in the U.S. and all over the world will now have to adjust to the uncertain effects of President Donald Trump's aggressive new series of tariffs. Economic experts predict some measure of chaos in the short term. It's impossible to predict how the tariffs will play out in the long run, but it will certainly affect everything from the beads used in regalia to groceries to auto sales. Trump insists the new tariffs will put American businesses on a more level playing field and boost the federal government's coffers. We'll hear how Native business experts are responding to the new economic reality. GUESTS Tabatha Bull (Nipissing First Nation), president and CEO of Canadian Council for Indigenous Business John Desjarlais (Cree-Métis), executive director of the Indigenous Resource Network Dante Biss-Grayson (Osage), founder of Sky-Eagle Collection Tally Monteau (Hunkpati Dakota and Chippewa-Cree), program manager for the Native American Development Corporation (NADC) Triia program and beadwork artist Benjamin Haile (Shinnecock), owner of Thunder Island Coffee Roasters

Indigenous people in Canada suffered a noticeably disproportionate number of fatal interactions with law enforcement in 2024. In one three-month period, 15 Indigenous people died either in custody or from direct interactions with police. It prompted the Assembly of First Nations and other Indigenous leaders to call for a national inquiry. It also inspired the news program, APTN Investigates, to pry into the factors that contribute to such an imbalance in the justice system. Their new three-part series looks into the strained relationship between Indigenous people and law enforcement. We'll talk with APTN Investigates team members about their findings. We'll also hear from Marvin Roberts, the Athabascan man who just settled a wrongful conviction lawsuit against the city of Fairbanks, Alaska for $11.5 million. Roberts is one of the men – all Native – deemed the "Fairbanks Four". They were all convicted and imprisoned for the 1997 murder of a teenager. They were released in 2015 after another man confessed to the crime. GUESTS Cullen Crozier (Gwich'in, Dene, and Métis), producer with APTN Investigates Tamara Pimental (Métis), video journalist with APTN Investigates Tom Fennario, video journalist with APTN Investigates Marvin Roberts (Athabascan), one of the "Fairbanks Four" Reilly Cosgrove, partner at Kramer and Cosgrove law firm