Native America Calling - The Electronic Talking Circle

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 Hegseth uses words like “fraud” and “scheme” to describe what he says is an outdated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative.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)

The scariest clown to ever appear on screen drives a storyline involving a fictional tribe in Maine. “IT: Welcome to Derry” uses horror writer Stephen King's 1986 novel as a jumping off point. The hit HBO Max miniseries provides a new Native American theme to the plot with some veteran Native talent in front of and behind the camara. It is one of the notable projects from 2025, a list that also includes Sterlin Harjo's “The Lowdown”, the TIFF Best Canadian Feature winner, “Uiksaringitara,” and SXSW Documentary Feature Special Jury Award winner, “Remaining Native.” We'll recall some of the best film and TV projects from the year and see what's in store for 2026. GUESTS Johnnie Jae (Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw), founder of Red Pop! News  Jason Asenap (Comanche and Muscogee), writer, critic, and filmmaker Sunrise Tippeconnie (Commanche, Navajo and Cherokee), director of programming at deadCenter Film and co-host of the Reel Indigenous Podcast Kimberly Guerrero (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and Salish and Kootenai), actress, screenwriter, and professor at the University of California, Riverside Favorite films and television shows of the year Sunrise Tippeconnie: Tiger – (documentary short), director Loren Waters  Drowned Land – (documentary), director Colleen Thurston Legend of Fry-Roti: Rise of the Dough – (short film), director Sabrina Saleha Free Leonard Peltier – (documentary), directors Jesse Short Bull and David France Siren of the Wood – (short film), director Christopher Corsy Jason Asenap: Tiger – (short doc), director Lauren Waters Endless Cookie – (animated film), directors Seth Scriver and Peter Scriver Remaining Native – (documentary), director Paige Bethmann The Lowdown – (television show), creator Sterlin Harjo Johnnie Jae: Guardian of the Land – (documentary), director LaRonn Katchia Inkwo for When the Starving Return – (animated short), director Amanda Strong Pow! – (animated short), director Joey Clift Courage – (documentary short), director Eric Michael Hernandez Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband) – (feature film), director Zacharias KunukHere’s an extended interview with IT: Welcome to Derry star Kimberly Guerrero speaking on her role of Rose in the television series. She starts off describing her early career in Hollywood. https://nativeamericacalling-offload-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/123125-Kimberly-Guerrero-web-audio.wav

A team of researchers are actively sifting through archival documents, artifacts, even artwork to expand the story of Indigenous slavery. The Native Bound Unbound project includes interactive maps, digitized documents, and recent interviews with descendants whose ancestors endured enslavement. The publicly available digital archive aims to document every instance of Indigenous slavery in the Western Hemisphere to illuminate where and when slavery took place, and the lasting effects for Indigenous communities and their descendants. This is an encore show so we won’t be taking calls from listeners. GUESTS Philip J. Deloria (Yankton Dakota), professor of history at Harvard University Theresa Pasqual (Acoma Pueblo), executive vice president of Indigenous Affairs at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center and the former tribal historic preservation officer for the Pueblo of Acoma Estevan Rael-Galvez, executive director of Native Bound Unbound: Archive of Indigenous Slavery Break 1 Music: Crossroad Blues (song) Lakota John (artist) Lakota John and Kin (album) Break 2 Music: Oshki Manitou (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

A historically devastating salmon die-off on the Klamath River in 2002 was among the influences putting Amy Bowers Cordalis (Yurok) on her path of conservation. She recounts that moment, along with her family's multigenerational fight to save their ties to the river, in her memoir, “The Water Remembers.” She is an instrumental voice in what became the largest river reclamation project in U.S. history. The story of the Blackfeet Tribe's revitalization of their historical ties to buffalo is the subject of the documentary “Bring Them Home”/“Aiskótáhkapiyaaya.” The film is directed by Blackfeet siblings and Oscar-nominated actor Lily Gladstone (Blackfeet) is the narrator and executive producer. Tribes and tribal organizations are still waiting for the dust to settle after a year of unprecedented upheaval and funding cuts from the federal government. We'll get an assessment of what happened and what this moment in time means for food sovereignty going forward. GUESTS Carly Griffith-Hotvedt (Cherokee), executive director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative Amy Bowers Cordalis (Yurok), executive director of the Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group, and author of “The Water Remembers” Ivy MacDonald (Blackfeet), writer, director, and cinematographer Ivan MacDonald (Blackfeet), filmmaker, director, and producer Break 1 Music: Honor Song (song) Blackfoot Confederacy (artist) Hear the Beat (album) Break 2 Music: Oshki Manitou (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

As South Dakota tribes mark the 135th anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre, they face a headwind of history revision by the Trump administration. After years of admonishment by tribal leaders to rescind the Medals of Honor awarded to the soldiers who participated in the massacre, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instead praised the soldiers for their bravery and declared that the medals will stand. Since then, President Donald Trump signed legislation preserving land at the site in honor of the tragedy. We'll get perspective on how Wounded Knee is remembered. GUESTS Jeff Means (Oglala Lakota), associate professor of history and department chair at the University of Wyoming Courtney Yellow Fat (Hunkpapa Lakota), historian and chief cultural consultant and co-producer with the Densmore/Lakota Songs Repatriation Project Willard Malebear Jr. (Hunkpapa Lakota), current organizer of the Dakota 38+2 Memorial Run Break 1 Music: Calvin Jumping Bull's Memorial Song (song) Porcupine Singers (artist) Alowanpi – Songs Of Honoring – Lakota Classics: Past & Present, Vol. 1 (album) Break 2 Music: Oshki Manitou (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

On the cusp of what could be a new era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), some researchers are urging caution and the need for deliberate controls to keep the developing technology from robbing Indigenous people of their cultures and sovereignty. A project with three universities provides a framework of standards to prevent AI from stripping Native Americans and all other Indigenous peoples of their right to control images, language, cultural knowledge, and other components of their identities they've worked so hard to retain. We'll hear about the potential benefits and threats of AI to Native people. This is an encore show so we won’t be taking calls from listeners. GUESTS Danielle Boyer (Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), robotics inventor Randy Kekoa Akee (Native Hawaiian), Julie Johnson Kidd Professor of Indigenous Governance and Development at Harvard University Michael Running Wolf (Lakota and Cheyenne), community leader in AI research Crystal Hill-Pennington, professor at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Break 1 Music: Obsidian (song) Red-209 (artist) Break 2 Music: Coventry Carol (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Coventry Carol (album)

December is a traditional time for feasts, family, and giving, but the financial and time burdens of the holiday-heavy month, combined with the change of seasons and other factors, also make it a time ripe for breaks in a person's mental health. We'll find out how connections — with other people, cultural traditions, or spiritual foundations — can be a way to mitigate the added stresses of December — or any time, in this encore presentation. GUESTS Dr. Pamela End of Horn (Oglala Lakota), national suicide prevention consultant for the Indian Health Service Kristin Mitchell (Diné), assistant project director for Project AWARE Wildcats (PAWS) Dr. Jessica Saniguq Ullrich (Nome Eskimo Community and Native Village of Wales), assistant professor at the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH) at Washington State University Break 1 Music: Dreaming of A Christmas (song) Randall Paskemin (artist) Christmas Cheer (album) Break 2 Music: Coventry Carol (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Coventry Carol (album)

New York Times best-selling author Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) made a number of best-of-2025 lists with the third book in her series centered in the Ojibwe community, Sugar Island, titled “Sisters in the Wind.” Another favorite comes from young adult author and editor, Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee), who challenged more than a dozen other Native authors to imagine a Native future where a frybread eatery holds community and culture in the “Legendary Frybread Drive-In.” And renowned Potawatomi botanist and writer, Robin Wall Kimmerer tapped into the curiosity of young readers with her first children's book “Bud Finds Her Gift.” They are among the Native works highlighted by our distinguished panel of reading enthusiasts. You can find their lists of favorite books of the year below. GUESTS Allison Waukau (Menominee and Navajo), American Indian Library Association member -at-large Amber McCrary (Diné), writer and poet Stacy Wells (Choctaw Nation), author and librarian Allison Waukau’s favorite books:  “I Am on Indigenous Land” by Katrina M. Phillips “We Survived the Night” by Julian Brave Noisecat *featured on NAC in October “Sisters in the Wind” by Angeline Boulley *featured on NAC in September  “Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse” by Darcy Whitecrow and Heather O'Connor “Moon Song” by Michaela Goade “Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones *featured on NAC in October “Bud Finds Her Gift” by Robin Wall Kimmerer *featured on NAC in September  “Ishkode: A Story of Fire” by Evan Larson and Nisogaabokwe Melonee Montano and illustrated by Moira Villiard Minnesota Lives series Stacy Wells’ favorite books:  “The Others” by Cheryl Issacs (sequel to “The Unfinished”) “Legendary Frybread Drive-In” edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith *featured on The Menu in August  “Faye and the Dangerous Journey: An Ojibwe Removal Survival Story” by Kim Sigafus “The Summer of the Bone Horses” by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve *featured on NAC in July  Amber McCrary’s favorite books:  “The Museum of Unnatural Histories” by Annie Wenstrup “Mele” by Kalehua Kim “Beyond the Glittering World: an Anthology of Indigenous Feminisms and Futurisms” edited by Stacie Shannon Denetsosie, Kinsale Drake and Darcie Little Badger “Soft as Bones” by Chyana Marie Sage Shawn Spruce’s favorite books:  “Hole in the Sky” by Daniel H. Wilson *featured on NAC in October  “Sisters in the Wind” by Angeline Boulley *featured on NAC in September  “We Survived the Night” by Julian Brave Noisecat *featured on NAC in October “Stick Houses” by Matthew Fletcher *featured on NAC in June  Andi Murphy’s (NAC producer) favorite books: “Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones *featured on NAC in October “Punished” by Ann-Helén Laestadius *featured on NAC in February  “Broken Fields” by Marcie R. Rendon *featured on NAC in March “Big Chief” by Jon Hickey “Love is a War Song” by Danica Nava “The Whistler” by Nick Medina *featured on NAC in October  “Hole in the Sky” by Daniel H. Wilson *featured on NAC in October  “Surviva: A Future Ancestral Field Guide” by Cannupa H. Luger *featured on NAC in October  Break 1 Music: 12 Days of Christmas (song) Carol Adams (artist) Heartbeat of the Holiday Season (album) Break 2 Music: Coventry Carol (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Coventry Carol (album)

With the stroke of a pen, the U.S. welcomes more than 50,000 new federally recognized tribal citizens. After numerous failed attempts, the Lumbee Nation is the 575th federally recognized tribe — the fourth-largest overall in terms of population and the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River. The recognition brings a host of potential changes, including new political power, economic development opportunities, and a sense of pride for Lumbee citizens who have worked for nearly 140 years to be counted among the country's established sovereign nations. GUESTS David E. Wilkins (Lumbee), professor at the University of Richmond Malinda Maynor Lowery (Lumbee), professor at Emory University, historian, and filmmaker Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz (Lumbee), professor at the University of Iowa and director of the Native Policy Lab Break 1 Music: Maple Leaf Rag (song) Lakota John (artist) Winds of Time (album) Break 2 Music: Coventry Carol (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Coventry Carol (album)

Leonard Peltier's release after nearly 50 years in federal prison tops our list for the most momentous events of 2025. We'll explore what the unrepentant elder activist's relative freedom (he remains under house arrest) means nearly a year after President Joe Biden commuted his sentence. We'll also revisit some of the other top news events including how President Donald Trump's first year touched everything from Native health care to federal contracts, and federal recognition for the Lumbee Nation. GUESTS Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (Diné), managing editor of ICT Graham Lee Brewer (Cherokee), national reporter for The Associated Press Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), publisher and editor of Native News Online and Tribal Business News Melanie Henshaw (Mvskoke), Indigenous affairs reporter for InvestigateWest Break 1 Music: Ridin' Out the Storm (song) Samantha Crain (artist) Break 2 Music: Coventry Carol (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Coventry Carol (album)

“Cruel Joke”, the new album by Cherokee singer-songwriter Ken Pomeroy, scored celebratory reviews from Rolling Stone and NPR’s World Café among many other outlets. Chickasaw classical composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate puts an Indigenous twist on classical music, teaming up with the Dover Quartet, which BBC Music magazine calls one of the greatest quartets of the last 100 years. And the popular First Nations powwow group Northern Cree released two singles with Juno-award winning blues duo Blue Moon Marquee. They are among the countless talented Native musicians who are mastering their craft and reaching new audiences in 2025. We’ll review some of the notable music from this past year. GUESTS Brett Maybee (Seneca), host of “The Mainstream”, “Gaënö'”, and Full Moon Radio; multi-instrumentalist; and singer- songwriter Larry K (Ho-Chunk), CEO and program host of “Indigenous in Music” Tory J (Quinault), host of “Sounds of Survivance” on KEXP Break 1 Music: LUCKY8 (song) Ribbon Skirt (artist) Pensacola Break 2 Music: Hug Room (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

The prime minister of Denmark apologized for the forced contraception of thousands of Indigenous women in Greenland dating back to the 1960s. The Danish government is also ending problematic parent competency tests associated with disproportionately high numbers of babies being taken away from Indigenous mothers. Both milestones come as Greenland — an autonomous territory of Danish rule — is making strides toward independence. The Trump administration has also made public comments about exerting U.S. control over the mineral-rich territory occupied almost entirely by Indigenous Inuit residents. We'll talk with Greenlanders about how these developments address Denmark's complicated past and what remains to be done. GUESTS Najannguaq Hegelund, chair for SILA 360 Johannes Geisler (Inuk), Greenlandic parent Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam, Member of the Parliament of Greenland Ujammiugaq Engell, museum director for the Nuuk Local Museum Break 1 Music: Ikitaa (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Break 2 Music: Hug Room (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

During the brief time it was open, the Turtle building in Niagara Falls, N.Y. served as the Native American Center for the Living Arts. It was designed by Northern Arapaho architect Dennis Sun Rhodes. Now it stands vacant and is in the way of a proposal for a high-rise hotel. It is on the most recent list of Most Endangered Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Another place on the list is the Pamunkey Indian Reservation. Tribal leaders say their land will be underwater within the next 65 years. We'll hear about some of the threatened historic places and the efforts to save them. GUESTS Chief Kevin Brown (Pamunkey) Shaun Wilson (Mohawk), president of the board of directors for the Friends of the Niagara Turtle Emma Wilson (Mohawk), student and social media manager for the Friends of the Niagara Turtle Charles Vaughn (Hualapai), council member and former chairman of the Hualapai Tribe Break 1 Music: Stomp Dance (song) George Hunter (artist) Haven (album) Break 2 Music: Hug Room (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

Rodeo announcer Randy Taylor (Cherokee) knows what he's talking about. He was a bareback rider for nearly 20 years. Forty years ago, the Oklahoma native was the first rider out of the chute at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev. After a stint in college and then as a chiropractor, Taylor turned to announcing. His voice is now recognizable all over and on his nationally syndicated show, “Word With A Champ“. He just received the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. He is also a dedicated advocate for Native American youth. Taylor is our December Native in the Spotlight. Break 1 Music: Hooked on an 8 Second Ride (song) Chris LeDoux (artist) Chris LeDoux and The Saddle Boogie Band (album) Break 2 Music: Hug Room (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

The holiday gift-giving time is when many retailers make a bulk of their annual profit. Several Native entrepreneurs have just opened their doors and are hopeful that this season will propel them forward, despite some indications that shoppers are cautious. Others are veterans of the business world, but are also pinning a lot of hope on the public's ability to make the most of holiday shopping. We'll hear from both rookies and long-time Native retailers about what it takes to start and stay in business. GUESTS Amy Denet Deal (Diné), founder of 4KINSHIP Ruth-Ann Thorn (Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians), entrepreneur and owner of Native Star Jeremy Arviso (Diné, Hopi, Akimel O’odham, and Tohono O’odham), artist, designer, and entrepreneur Break 1 Music: Dat One (song) The Delbert Anderson Trio (artist) MANITOU (album) Break 2 Music: Hug Room (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

After years of discussions, Taos, N.M. decided to remove Kit Carson's name from a widely used park in the center of town. Carson's renown as a Western frontiersman grew from greatly exaggerated tales in pulp novels and newspaper articles. Only later did his violent exploits against Navajos and other tribes emerge. He was among the main figures in the Long Walk, the forced march of 10,000 captive Navajos. More than a third of them died. In Michigan, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed a Washington Monument-style obelisk commemorating the construction of shipping locks on Lake Michigan. The obelisk sat atop the remainder of a burial ground. Lock construction destroyed the main part of the sacred area but the Bay Mills Indian Community and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians continue to hold ceremonies there. We'll talk with tribal advocates about their years-long work to change how their histories are viewed by the public. GUESTS Jeremy Lujan (Taos Pueblo), Taos Pueblo tribal secretary Jesse Winters (Taos Pueblo), Taos Pueblo second sheriff Dr. Gregorio Gonzales (Comanche and Genizaro), tribal historic preservation officer for the Pueblo of Cochiti Paula Carrick (Bay Mills Indian Community), tribal historic preservation officer for Bay Mills Indian Community Break 1 Music: Take Your Troubles to the River (song) Vincent Craig (artist) Self-titled Release (album) Break 2 Music: She Raised Us (song) Joanne Shenandoah (artist) LifeGivers (album)

Paiute and Shoshone tribes in California’s Owens Valley are facing a shortage of water—an issue that spans decades, but is now exacerbated by climate change. The city of Los Angeles, more than 200 miles away, is guzzling one-third of the groundwater in the region. The city’s diversion of water from the valley began in 1913. L.A. drained Owens Lake dry within a decade. The land, once lush with springs and streams, is now a parched landscape that hinders tribes' access to culture and economic development. Also, we’ll hear about how a proposed weakening of federal protections for the majority of the country’s wetlands could affect tribes. Tribes manage millions of acres of wetlands. The Trump administration seeks to limit the EPA’s authority on how it regulates pollution under the Clean Water Act. Scaling back those protections has potential consequences for much of the country’s sources of clean drinking water. GUESTS Daniel Cordalis (Diné), staff attorney with Native American Rights Fund and leads the Tribal Water Institute Teri Red Owl (Bishop Paiute), executive director of the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission Break 1 Music: The Four Essential Elements [Diigo Bee'iináanii] (song) Radmilla Cody (artist) K'é Hasin (album) Break 2 Music: She Raised Us (song) Joanne Shenandoah (artist) LifeGivers (album)

December is a traditional time for feasts, family, and giving, but the financial and time burdens of the holiday-heavy month, combined with the change of seasons and other factors, also make it a time ripe for breaks in a person's mental health. We'll find out how connections — with other people, cultural traditions, or spiritual foundations — can be a way to mitigate the added stresses of December — or any time. GUESTS Dr. Pamela End of Horn (Oglala Lakota), national suicide prevention consultant for the Indian Health Service Kristin Mitchell (Diné), assistant project director for Project AWARE Wildcats (PAWS) Dr. Jessica Saniguq Ullrich (Nome Eskimo Community and Native Village of Wales), assistant professor at the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH) at Washington State University Break 1 Music: Little Sunflower (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album) Break 2 Music: She Raised Us (song) Joanne Shenandoah (artist) LifeGivers (album)

Crow leadership are working toward revamping their tribal citizenship requirements. If their proposal goes through, any currently enrolled tribal citizens would be designated as having 100% Crow blood. The St. Croix Ojibwe Tribe in Wisconsin Tribe is seeing their first tribal enrollment gains in years after they got rid of their blood quantum requirement. They are among the tribes looking down the road and mapping a future away from the Indian blood requirement. GUESTS Levi Black Eagle (Apsáalooke), secretary of the Crow Tribe Conrad St. John (St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin), chairman of St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Jill Doerfler (White Earth Anishinaabe), professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota-Duluth Cheyenne Robinson (Omaha), treasurer for the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska Jonaye Doney (Aaniih), student at the University of Montana

Cuts in grants and operating funds, federal staff reductions, and department disorganization - and the federal government shutdown - all took a toll on the work done by tribal museums this year. Tribal museums are a source of economic development for many tribes, but more than that they offer an authentic and more comprehensive picture of Native culture and history than their non-Native counterparts. As Tribal Museums Week gets underway, we'll check in with tribal museums about their work and what they hope to accomplish in the current unpredictable environment for so many cultural institutions. GUESTS CC Hovie (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), public affairs and communications director for the Association on American Indian Affairs Janine Ledford (Makah), executive director of the Makah Museum Selena Ortega Chiolero (Tarahumara), museum specialist for the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council's Culture and Historic Preservation Department Stacy Laravie (Ponca), Indigenization director for the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers

State by state, tribes are staking out a share in the burgeoning online sports betting business. Places like Colorado, California, Wisconsin, and Michigan all have ongoing legal and political disputes involving tribes' ability to expand casino enterprises into online sports books. We'll look at how the clash between states, private companies, and tribes are raising complex questions over sovereignty, regulation, and jurisdiction. GUESTS Jason Giles (Muscogee), executive director of the Indian Gaming Association James Siva (Morongo Band of Mission Indians), vice chairman for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and chairman of California Nations Indian Gaming Association Gary Pitchlynn (Choctaw), professor of law at the University of Oklahoma

Nine out of ten people seeking jobs say they have a side hustle — a second or even third job. An Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll from October 2025 also says a higher percentage of younger job-seekers — Gen Z and Millennials —expect to be able to overlap their side jobs on company time. Money is a major factor - and the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported this year that more employers are cutting hours. We'll talk with some of those who are working multiple jobs about the ups and downs of juggling a side hustle.

A one-time allocation for Tribal Colleges and Universities unexpectedly just doubled the federal allocation compared to the previous year. And a small handful of colleges are rejoicing over multi-million-dollar windfalls from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. But that doesn't mean officials at any of those institutions are breathing a sigh of relief. Instead, the unpredictable nature of federal funding and other factors — including the Trump administration's stated plan earlier this year to all but eliminate their funding, has tribal higher education administrators scrambling. We'll speak with some of them about the educational institutions that thousands of Native students depend on. GUESTS Christopher Caldwell (Menominee), president of the College of Menominee Nation Leander McDonald (Dakota, Arikara, Hidatsa and Hunkpapa), president of the United Tribes Technical College Manoj Patil, president of Little Priest Tribal College

“Braids” by director, writer, and editor Elise Aachix̂ Qağaduug Beers (Unangan) tells the story of a Native student who contends with bullying and uninformed school policy. It's a modern-day tale with a long historical reach. “Guts,” a comedy by Elias Gold (Diné), is a story of a drifter who wreaks havoc on the Navajo reservation in search of a particular traditional food. We'll talk with both filmmakers and also get an update on a new initiative to elevate Indigenous voices across film and TV.

Despite promises by elected leaders to address the disproportionate number of Native Americans and Alaska Natives who are murdered or go missing, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) advocates say there is little progress and even steps backward for victims and their families. Advocates say the Trump administration's removal of the Not One More report from the Department of Justice's website is a setback for public awareness and the work to fight the ongoing problem. Advocates also complained that Alaska officials are not adequately acknowledging the number of unsolved cases. Since that complaint, state officials added 50 names to the unsolved cases list. Numerous data sources point to the disproportionate rate that Native people are victims of violence and their cases go unresolved. GUESTS Charlene Aqpik Apok (Iñupiaq), executive director of Data for Indigenous Justice Karrisa Newkirk (Caddo), president and founder of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women-Chahta LaRenda Morgan (Cheyenne and Arapaho), cousin of Ida Beard and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) advocate Cheryl Horn (Nakota and Aaniiih), Fort Belknap MMIP advocate

In his second cookbook, “Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America,” Sean Sherman (Oglala Lakota), James Beard Award-wining chef and restaurateur, dives deeper into the Indigenous culinary communities of 13 regions of North America and Mesoamerica. He shares dozens of recipes inspired by his travels and the people he calls friends, teachers, and leaders that he encounters along the way. Pyet DeSpain (Prairie Band Potawatomi) was already familiar with traditional everyday foods like frybread, meat pies, and corn soup growing up on the Osage reservation in Oklahoma. And on the Mexican side of her family, tamales, pozole, and atole were a staple. Now a well-known and award-winning chef, DeSpain is sharing that fusion of Native and Mexican cuisine and heritage in her debut cookbook, “Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking.”

The Aboriginal people of Australia have cemented a historic agreement with the state of Victoria that could provide a blueprint for recognizing Indigenous peoples and incorporating their voices and cultures into the political process going forward. The treaty is a first for Australia and comes after years of research, negotiation, and a failed political referendum in 2023. Among other things, those crafting the treaty look to avoid the pitfalls of federal treaties with Native Americans and First Nations peoples of Canada. In this encore show, we'll hear from those who worked to make the treaty happen and what about their hopes and concerns following this historic action.

Mel Tonasket (Colville Tribes) is one of the key reasons the Colville Tribes remain thriving today. As a newly elected tribal council member in 1971, he cast the deciding vote against a deal with the federal government that traded cash payouts to individual tribal members for the tribe's permanent termination. Tonasket credits the mentorship of tribal activist Lucy Covington for guiding his insights and energy to protect the sovereignty of the 12-tribe coalition under the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. He since went on to an ongoing vigilance for hunting, fishing, and other treaty rights. He still serves on the tribal business council after decades of service in many capacities. We'll speak with Tonasket about the history of his tribe, his own call to leadership, and what's next for his people.

On the cusp of what could be a new era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), some researchers are urging caution and the need for deliberate controls to keep the developing technology from robbing Indigenous people of their cultures and sovereignty. A project with three universities provides a framework of standards to prevent AI from stripping Native Americans and all other Indigenous peoples of their right to control images, language, cultural knowledge, and other components of their identities they've worked so hard to retain. We'll hear about the potential benefits and threats of AI to Native people.

Social worker and political newcomer Sierra Yazzie Asamoa-Tutu will take office in January 2026 as Gallup, N.M.'s first Diné city council member. Notably a city along Route 66 and on the edge of the Navajo Nation, Gallup's population is more than half Native American. Yazzie Asamoa-Tutu is one of a number of Native candidates filling local elected seats since the mid-term elections. We'll talk with some of them about what their hopes are for their coming term of elected public service.

New works by two best-selling Cherokee writers intertwine riveting fictional narratives with a dose of Native American historical reality. Vanessa Lillie's “The Bone Thief” continues the suspenseful trajectory of Syd Walker, a BIA archaeologist first introduced in Lillie's novel, “Blood Sisters.” This time, the setting for the story is present-day Narragansett territory in New England and colonial mythology about the first Thanksgiving plays a part. Brandon Hobson's “The Devil is a Southpaw” takes readers back almost four decades to the heart of Cherokee country, but readers are warned upfront that the memories portrayed now may not be reliable. Hobson takes a surrealistic detour where both Salvador Dali and a character named Brandon H. make appearances. It's an imaginative character study that propels a gripping story of love and loss.