Native America Calling
1,942 episodes - English - Latest episode: 28 days ago - ★★★★★ - 106 ratingsInteractive, daily program featuring Native and Indigenous voices, insights, and stories from across the U.S. and around the world.
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Episodes
Friday, January 5, 2024 – A unique—and somewhat terrifying—Inuit holiday tradition
January 05, 2024 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBJust as the rest of us are putting away holiday lights and sweeping up New Year’s confetti, a tradition like no other gearing up in the Inuit villages of Labrador and Newfoundland, Canada. Every January 6, the Nalujuit come out of the icy sea to visit Inuit children. They have terrifying faces and carry harpoons and other menacing staffs. They give out treats to children they deem good, but chase those who are bad. It’s a beloved Labrador Inuit tradition that’s also documented by an Inuk film...
Thursday, January 4, 2024 – Responding to racism
January 04, 2024 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBA civil rights lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice forced a hotel owner in Rapid City, S.D. to issue a written apology and take other steps after publicly banning Native Americans as hotel guests, but another lawsuit claims the hotel is still turning away Native customers. A business owner in Arizona faced few consequences after a public tirade against Native Americans. Such disparaging actions and public comments aimed at Native Americans are a step backward in the work toward equal...
Wednesday, January 3, 2024 – Updates on top news stories from 2023
January 03, 2024 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBSome of the big news stories from the past year promise to spill over into the months ahead and beyond - from the fallout for #Native #Americans caught up in a massive Medicaid fraud scheme in Arizona to the causes and ramifications of the deadly fires that destroyed Lahaina, Hawaii. Those are two of the big events that Native journalists are following in 2024.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024 – Putting in the work to start the year off right
January 02, 2024 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBThe New Year provides an opportunity to press the reset button and shed those intrusive negative thoughts. Improving our physical and mental health, prioritizing important relationships, and putting the worries of the world in the right context can all make a difference at home or at work. We’ll have helpful strategies and inspiration for everyone from expert self-starters to those working on a major motivation overhaul.
Monday, January 1, 2024 – Science meets tribal knowledge on the Northern Lights
January 01, 2024 08:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBThe aurora borealis is more than just a dazzling natural light show for those lucky enough to see it. The northern lights are also a cultural touchstone handed down over millennia. Some tribes understand the Northern Lights as a message from the ancestors. At the same time, Native astrophysicists are working to view the phenomenon with both modern scientific and traditional knowledge.
Friday, December 29, 2023 – The Menu: dam removal progress and a look back at Native cookbooks from 2023
December 29, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBCrews have completed demolition of one dam on the lower portion of the Klamath River along the Oregon-California border. It's a major milestone in the area's tribes' efforts to restore salmon, traditionally the primary food source for tribes in the area. At least four Indigenous chefs released cookbooks in 2023, helping change the narrative and methods around traditional dishes. Those are two of the Indigenous food highlights we'll feature the latest helping of The Menu, our regular feature o...
Thursday, December 28, 2023 – The Native American Trivia Show
December 28, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBHow much do you know (and remember) about Native people and events from 2023? Now is the chance to test your knowledge of things you might have heard about by listening to Native America Calling over the past year. What name was Buffy Sainte-Marie given at birth? Which justices dissented in the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decision on ICWA? Name a river in California where dams are being demolished to benefit salmon. Those are the types of trivia questions related to Native issues that calle...
Wednesday, December 27, 2023 – If I were president
December 27, 2023 08:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBWhat changes would you make if you were in position of authority? Now is your chance to say what you would change if you were president, chairman, or even king. Would you ban all gas-powered cars? Would you own up to all the promises from past treaties with tribes? Would you require all schools to teach at least one Indigenous language? We’ll get ideas from our audience and a few invited guests on what they would do if they had the power to change things.
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 – Reaching beyond barriers: a conversation with J.C. Elliott-High Eagle
December 26, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBJerry Chris Elliott-High Eagle (Cherokee, Osage) joined NASA as a young engineer before astronauts ever made it to the moon. Eventually, among other things, he was a member of the team that devised real-time solutions to bring the crew of the hobbled Apollo 13 safely back to Earth, an accomplishment that earned him a Presidential Medal of Freedom. He’s a musician, writer, inventor, and social justice advocate. He was instrumental in establishing the first national Native American Awareness We...
Monday, December 25, 2023 – The next generation of Indigenous fire practitioners
December 25, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBThe increase in unprecedented damage from wildfires knows no boundaries and International Indigenous fire management experts see global participation as a solution. At the heart of their work is recognition that climate change is a major contributing factor. They’re bringing traditional fire knowledge to a new generation who are inheriting some of the worst conditions for destructive wildfires in history. We’ll talk with some of those gathered for this year’s Indigenous Peoples Burning Works...
Friday, December 22, 2023 – The year in Native music
December 22, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBWhat music from 2023 is on repeat in your Native playlist? We’ll get recommendations from Native artists and others with their ears to the ground about this year’s new releases from veteran artists and up-and-comers, spanning genres, tribes, and styles.
Thursday, December 21, 2023 – Science meets tribal knowledge on the Northern Lights
December 21, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBThe aurora borealis is more than just a dazzling natural light show for those lucky enough to see it. The northern lights are also a cultural touchstone handed down over millennia. Some tribes understand the Northern Lights as a message from the ancestors. At the same time Native astrophysicists are working to view the phenomenon with both modern scientific and traditional knowledge.
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 – Status check: Native voting access
December 20, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBA federal appeals court ruling is prompting a review of some previous decisions in favor of tribes seeking redistricting or ballot access changes. The recent decision by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals limits who can sue under the landmark Voting Rights Act. We’ll check on selected access and redistricting cases, including a redistricting case involving North Dakota tribes and a ballot drop-box initiative in Arizona, that indicate how Native voting access could change.
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 – Developing new fluent Cherokee speakers
December 19, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBThe Dadiwonsi Adult Language Program in North Carolina just welcomed its first graduates in the Cherokee Language. The program is part of an extensive network to develop new fluent Cherokee speakers on and around the Qualla Boundary. And a translation effort hopes to connect modern Cherokees with past culture keepers, Inoli and Will West Long.
Monday, December 18, 2023 – The year in Pop Culture
December 18, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBThis year we said goodbye to Reservation Dogs, but welcomed a trailblazing new Native character in the Marvel franchise. A talented actress brought a tragic tale of greed and murder on the Osage Nation to the big screen and a poignant coming of age story set on the Navajo Nation is a streaming darling. We’ll recall the highlights of the Native stories that connected with audiences in 2023.
Friday, December 15, 2023 – The year in Native literature
December 15, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBThis year’s published works included a fictional account of Sacajawea, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated historical analysis of northern Anishinaabe people, a creepy anthology, and a sequel to a best-selling story. We’ll hear from both readers and writers about the standout books by Native authors from 2023.
Thursday, December 14, 2023 – COP28: Step-up or setback for climate change priorities?
December 14, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBIndigenous leaders from around the world are assessing the results – and lack thereof – from the annual international conference to determine the direction of environmental policy. Climate activists are severely criticizing the key document that emerged from the meeting hosted by one of the world’s biggest oil producers for ignoring future petroleum phase-outs to fight climate change. We’ll take on the 28th Annual Conference of Parties from an Indigenous perspective.
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Native In The Spotlight: Laurie Weahkee
December 13, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBFrom voting rights to drinking water access to respecting important Native land, Laurie Weahkee (Diné, Cochiti, and Zuni Pueblo) has been a force to improve policies that affect Native people. She was the long-time director of the Native Voters Alliance and has worked on political campaigns and local and national issues. She's our Native In The Spotlight.
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 – What can federal investment in food sovereignty accomplish?
December 12, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.1 MBThe Biden Administration just announced more than $4.3 million in federal money for a handful of tribes to bolster meat processing. Officials say the Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are designed to improve connections to traditional food sources. It’s part of a larger $68 million federal appropriation just announced that includes cooperative land management to improve wildlife habitat and fire protection. We’ll find out how trib...
Monday, December 11, 2023 – Federal funds, consultation, and lacrosse: assessing the White House Tribal Nations Summit
December 11, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBPresident Joe Biden signed an executive order during the White House Tribal Nations Summit that his administration says will provide tribes with better access to federal funds as part of the ongoing efforts to “heal the wrongs of the past”. Other topics at the summit centered on consultation, climate change, the scourge of fentanyl, and President Biden's endorsement of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy lacrosse team competing under their own flag in the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. We’ll talk with ...
Friday, December 8, 2023 – The Wilma Mankiller legacy meets Barbie
December 08, 2023 08:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBThe Barbie brand has experienced a banner year with the record-breaking success of the Greta Gerwig film. However, the Barbie Inspiring Women collectible dolls, which includes the former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma Wilma Mankiller, is getting praise and criticism - and spurring conversations about how non-Native companies accurately honor Native individuals and tribes. We’ll dive into the controversy.
Thursday, December 7, 2023 – Native volleyball is a fan favorite
December 07, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBFor fans and Native communities, volleyball matches and tournaments are sometimes as popular as football and basketball games. It’s fast-paced and rivalries are fierce. Especially popular for girls at the high school level, volleyball instills a long list of valuable lessons including the importance of fitness and exercises. Shawn Spruce talks with Native volleyball players and coaches about the 2023 season and how the sport is a dear part of Native community.
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 – New comedians on the block
December 06, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBMainstream audiences are starting to get a taste of Native humor on television shows like Rutherford Falls and Reservation Dogs. Native stand-up comics are also receiving more recognition like Brian Bahe (Tohono O'odham, Hopi, and Navajo), who was named by the news site Vulture as a new comedian to watch out for in 2023. We’ll hear from some Native comedians about breaking into the industry and making people laugh.
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 – Making holiday food gatherings safe
December 05, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBIt’s that time of year when we gather around the table to share a holiday dinner with family and friends for harvest feasts and winter community meals. To keep everyone safe from foodborne illnesses like Salmonella and E. Coli, home cooks must remember some simple, but important, food safety rules. Viruses and bacteria spread by contaminated food not only cause unpleasant gastrointestinal issues, foodborne illnesses can be life-threatening for elders and those with weak immune systems. We’ll ...
Monday, December 4, 2023 – The Native role in America’s War of Independence
December 04, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBThe American Revolution is mostly portrayed as an epic struggle between the colonies and the British. But Native tribes and individuals played a significant role in the historic War of Independence. It was a difficult choice for tribes, who were neither British subjects nor supporters of the encroaching colonies. We’ll get the Native perspective on America’s first war.
Friday, December 1, 2023 — The Menu: a food memoir and buffalo management
December 01, 2023 07:01 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBSurvival Food: North Woods Stories by a Menominee Cook, the posthumous memoir of the late educator, writer, and artist Thomas Pecore Weso, was just released. It gives readers a snapshot of his years growing up on his Wisconsin reservation in the 1960s and 1970s. He threads his memories in with the food that comes from hunted, fished, and gathered sources. Also, Congress has a chance to provide a consistent source of funding for tribes and tribal organizations for managing bison herds. Those a...
Thursday, November 30, 2023 — Tribal museums make a difference
November 30, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBTribal museums are on the forefront of representing Native culture and information accurately and effectively. They also advocate for best practices when it comes to repatriation and proper display of artifacts. As Tribal Museums Day approaches, we’ll get a rundown of some museums that are making a difference in their communities.
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 – Extraordinary: 2023 Indigenous MacArthur Fellows
November 29, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBThis year’s class of MacArthur Fellows includes three creative leaders from Native America. Dyani White Hawk (Sičáŋǧu Lakota) draws community and family together through contemporary and abstract multidisciplinary art. The Haskell Indian Nations University alumni has showed her work at myriad galleries including The Whitney Biennial in New York City. Patrick Makuakāne (Kanaka Maoli) is the founder and director of Nā Lei Hulu i ka Wēkiu, a hula company and cultural organization. Makuakāne is a...
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 – Igloos and traditional winter homes
November 28, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBIn the cold expanse of the Arctic, igloos, those dome-shaped structures made of blocks of snow, offer a cozy shelter in the wintertime. It’s one of many types of traditional winter homes tribes from the north down to the Southwest rely on. We’ll talk with traditional builders who carry on igloo and winter house building.
Monday, November 27, 2023 – Native in the Spotlight: Tescha Hawley
November 27, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBTescha Hawley’s (Aaniiih) breast cancer diagnosis started both a harrowing personal journey to fight the disease and the inspiring effort to help others facing similar health obstacles. Hawley organized funds and other resources for people on Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana who faced long drives, overnight hotel stays, and other expenses to access life-saving care. Her work grew into the Day Eagle Hope Project.
Friday, November 24, 2023 – Native bookshelf: Colonization and the Wampanoag Story by Linda Coombs
November 24, 2023 07:01 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBThe full picture of how the earliest colonists interacted with the Native Americans they encountered is clouded by the myths constructed by those writing history. Linda Coombs (Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah) offers the perspective from the tribe that greeted the Pilgrims in Race to the Truth: Colonization and the Wampanoag Story for both young readers and adults. She is an author with extensive experience as a tribal historian. Her book offers insights about, among other things, the first Thank...
Thursday, November 23, 2023 – Native Playlist: Clark Tenakhongva “Hon Muru” (Encore)
November 23, 2023 07:01 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBHopi musician and community leader Clark Tenakhongva pays tribute to Bears Ears Monument on his newly released album, “Hon Muru (Bear’s Ears).” The album features flutes, gentle percussion, and vocals in Hopi that make for a contemplative listen. Thursday on Native America Calling in an encore presentation of our regular feature "Native Playlist", Shawn Spruce talks with Tenakhongva about creating the album and catches up on his recent work on environmental conservation.
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 – The disparities facing South Dakota’s Native foster children
November 22, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBNearly three quarters of the children in South Dakota’s foster care system are Native American. That’s in a state with an overall Native population of 13%. And despite the requirements of federal law, a large portion of those children are placed in non-Native households, potentially severing their connections to family and culture. The lack of Native foster parents is one factor. But so is the lack of staff in tribal foster care programs. A comprehensive report by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader...
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 – The trouble finding safe drinking water
November 21, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38 MBThere is no more basic need than clean drinking water. That’s a need that the Santee Sioux Reservation in Nebraska has been lacking since the Environmental Protection Agency issued a no drink order in 2019. Wells on the reservation are showing levels the mineral manganese as much as 50 times higher than the agency considers safe. A long-term solution could cost upwards of $40 million. There’s no identifiable source of any funding for even a fraction of that amount.
Monday, November 20, 2023 – Building competition robots also builds STEM skills
November 20, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBTeams of Native junior and high school students are competing to build the best robots. They have to build their machines from scratch to accomplish tasks competition organizers set each season. Those tasks might be as simple as moving an object to a specific space, but they also might have to get around their opponents who are trying to stop them. Just like in sports, there are competitions on the regional, state, and national levels. We’ll hear from some Native robotics competitors and thei...
Friday, November 17, 2023 – NMAI’s Native Cinema Showcase online
November 17, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBThis year the collection of Native films by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian includes 35 films from six different countries. A selected list of films in the Native Cinema Showcase is going online free of charge. The films include a documentary about a young Navajo woman exploring the source of environmental threats on the Navajo Nation and a dramatic account of a woman’s interaction with a Maori stranger. We’ll hear about the films and filmmakers in this ne...
Thursday, November 16, 2023 – Tribes join the fight against fatal deer disease
November 16, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBChronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disorder that affects deer, elk, and other big game animals. It has growing implications for wildlife and the people across the country who manage them. In Minnesota, tribes are teaming up with wildlife officials and researchers in a unique collaboration aimed at reducing the spread of the disease on and near tribal lands.
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 – The fight for pre-K education programs
November 15, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBAs Head Start approaches its 60th year, federal funding for the pre-kindergarten program remains well short of what it would take to cover the number of children eligible. Now, it is among the proposed budget cuts on the table as Congress works to avoid a shutdown. There’s evidence Head Start provides a life-long boost for Native children, but its future is in doubt in Alaska and some other places where the potential need is greatest.
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 – When to know it’s time to re-brand
November 14, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBAfter reaching out to tribal leaders and citizens, the museum on the home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina re-launched with a new name and purpose. It’s a major makeover that officials with the Museum of the Cherokee People say now pulls together aspects of all three federally recognized Cherokee tribes. It’s one of several Native organizations and businesses that recently saw a need to refresh their image to better reflect their changing goals and purpose. We’ll talk...
Monday, November 13, 2023 – State recognition roadblocks for tribes
November 13, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBThe state of Louisiana tried to update their state recognition process, but the task force appointed to do that adjourned without any decisions. At least two tribes vying for state recognition are left hanging. It's just one instance of the questions facing tribes that don't yet meet the requirements for federal recognition and are seeking official status from their state.
Friday, November 10, 2023 – Celebrating Native veterans
November 10, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBParades and powwows are gearing up to honor Native American veterans around the country. Native military service dates to well before Native Americans were considered citizens of the United States. In addition to financial and educational benefits, Native people look to the military as a source of honor in line with tribal traditions. We’ll celebrate Native military service and assess how Native veterans are included when it comes to understanding cultural traditions, Friday on Native America...
Thursday, November 9, 2023 – The Native perspectives of the Israel-Hamas war
November 09, 2023 14:00 - 57 minutes - 39.8 MBNative American activists are speaking out in solidarity with Palestine as the U.S. continues its official stance supporting Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Many Native observers have long connected tribal history in this country and Palestine’s resistance against Israel’s aggressive colonial actions. Some others see parallels between tribes and Israel’s defense of sovereignty and homeland.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 – Native Playlist: Clark Tenakhongva “Hon Muru”
November 08, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBHopi musician and community leader Clark Tenakhongva pays tribute to Bears Ears Monument on his newly released album, “Hon Muru (Bear’s Ears).” The album features flutes, gentle percussion, and vocals in Hopi that make for a contemplative listen. Wednesday on Native America Calling in our regular feature "Native Playlist", Shawn Spruce talks with Tenakhongva about creating the album and catch up on his recent work on environmental conservation.
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 – Buffy Sainte-Marie: the weight of the truth
November 07, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBAfter a stellar, groundbreaking career as a musician and advocate for Indigenous people and causes, Buffy Sainte-Marie’s stated connections to any tribe in Canada or the U.S. appear to be completely made up. The revelations in an investigation by the CBC’s The Fifth Estate are a heartbreaking disappointment to her fans who saw her as a trailblazer in an industry with so little positive Native representation. At least one Indigenous group is calling for a recent Juno Award for best album to be...
Monday, November 6, 2023 – Tribes resolve land dispute 150 years in the making
November 06, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 38 MBFour northern tribes won a historic $59 million settlement with the federal government after a legal battle dating back three decades. The substance of the Pembina Tribes’ lawsuit is rooted in a treaty in the mid-19th Century. We’ll talk about what it takes to hold the United States accountable for dishonorable actions and the slow, difficult process to finally prevail against the odds.
Friday, November 3, 2023 – The next generation of Indigenous fire practitioners
November 03, 2023 06:01 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBThe increase in unprecedented damage from wildfires knows no boundaries and International Indigenous fire management experts see global participation as a solution. At the heart of their work is recognition that climate change is a major contributing factor. They’re bringing traditional fire knowledge to a new generation who are inheriting some of the worst conditions for destructive wildfires in history. We’ll talk with some of those gathered for this year’s Indigenous Peoples Burning Works...
Thursday, November 2, 2023 – Alaska at a subsistence fishing crossroads
November 02, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBSince time immemorial, the Kuskokwim River in Southwest Alaska has fed Native families. Now, after years of failed salmon runs, Native families are confronting the potential loss of this vital resource. At the same time they are caught in the middle of a legal battle between the federal government and the state over how best to manage fishing in rivers that flow through both jurisdictions. The Alaska Federation of Natives just joined several tribal groups, taking he federal government’s side ...
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 – The challenges of enforcing ICWA
November 01, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBA non-Native woman in Alaska refuses to abide by a tribal court order to turn an Alaska Native foster child over to the girl’s family members. It’s a blatant disregard of tribal sovereignty even after a notable re-affirmation of the Indian Child Welfare Act by the U.S. Supreme Court. The woman took custody of the child, named Chanel, at the request of the girl’s father, right before he was convicted of murdering Chanel’s mother during a domestic dispute. We’ll look at that case, as well as ef...
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 – Native Bookshelf: Indigenous creepy reads
October 31, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBYou never know what spirits you might summon when you whistle in the darkness. A new anthology Never Whistle At Night includes a story by Mi'kmaq writer Tiffany Morris, who also has a horror novella Green Fuse Burning, released on Halloween.
Monday, October 30, 2023 – The Menu: new cookbook, fresh Gathering’s Café, and catering in the Windy City
October 30, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBMoving through all four seasons, Yurok homecook Sara Calvosa Olson tells a compassionate story about the flavors and food of her tribe through her new debut cookbook Chími Nu’am. Menominee chef Jessica Pamonicutt’s catering company Ketapanen Kitchen will be getting a lot of visibility as a member of this year’s Chicago Bears Small Business All-Pros Team. And part of Minneapolis American Indian Center’s reconstruction is a totally revamped Gatherings Café with a new executive chef Vernon DeFoe...