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, August 18, 2023 – Live from the Santa Fe Indian Market
August 18, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBListen back to Native America Calling's live broadcast from the Santa Fe Indian Market featuring host Shawn Spruce and guests Dawn Houle (Chippewa Cree from Rocky Boy Montana), Mandolin Rain Song (Taos Pueblo), Jennifer Johns (Diné), and Jason Garcia (Santa Clara Pueblo).
Thursday, August 17, 2023 – Poeh Pathways Indigenous Arts Festival
August 17, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBNew Mexico is the center of arts celebrations this weekend, starting with the music, art, fashion, dances, and panel discussions at Pojoaque Pueblo. It’s the third year for the event that already attracts hundreds of artists. We get the rundown of the festival from organizers and some of the participants.
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 – Hawaiian residents take stock after historic fire
August 16, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBThe unprecedented fires on Maui are blamed for a rising human toll and destroyed homes, property and cultural touchstones. The island’s original kingdom capital, Lahaina, was hard hit, losing a 200 year-old church and the Hawaiian language immersion school Pūnana Leo, among other cherished structures. We’ll get a picture of the destruction and what’s next for residents.
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 – How tribes brought about a historic dam removal
August 15, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBOne of four dams on the Klamath River is already mostly demolished. Crews predict the other three will be gone by the end of next year. It’s the largest dam removal project in U.S. history and tribes along the river were instrumental in making it happen. The tribes say the dam removal will rehabilitate native salmon runs that are greatly diminished and restore sacred land that has been underwater for more than a century.
Monday, August 14, 2023 – Hope for reducing Native student expulsions
August 14, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBA pilot program in a handful of New Mexico schools aims to cut down on the high number of Native American expulsions. It uses conflict resolution and restorative justice methods to both build a sense of community and hold students accountable for bad behavior. Proponents hope the program in the schools can mirror successes in other institutions. It comes after reports by New Mexico In Depth and ProPublica that Native students are expelled at a higher rate than others.
Friday, August 11, 2023 – The syphilis epidemic
August 11, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBCases of the sexually transmitted bacterial infection syphilis are surging around the globe. In the U.S., Native Americans have the highest rates of syphilis than any other group. So much so, that the Indian Health Service is urging tribal leaders and health facilities that work with Native populations to institute a series of measures to fight the spread of the disease. We’ll explore why syphilis, that was once on decline, is making a dramatic comeback and what health officials are doing to ...
Thursday, August 10, 2023 – Riding with purpose
August 10, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBAs the famed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally gears up for its closing weekend, a group of bikers is carrying a message on their two-wheeled machines. Along with their black leather jackets, the bikers who make up the Medicine Wheel Ride wear red to raise awareness of the ongoing problem of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. Many of the riders are Native women who organize events to get the message out.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – Rez dogs: an appreciation
August 09, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBWhether they’re strays or have attentive caretakers, the dogs that occupy reservations have a bad reputation. Advocates for rez dogs are working on a number of fronts to turn that around. Mindful of the occasional safety issue, advocates for dogs are organizing veterinarian visits, spay, neuter clinics, and even dog shows, all as a way to prevent more drastic measures and to promote safer environments.
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 – Fighting to find missing First Nations women
August 08, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBPublic pressure is mounting to search a municipal landfill in Winnipeg for two missing Indigenous women. Police indicated last December the privately run landfill could be where the bodies of the women ended up. Police investigators say they believe the two are victims of a serial killer, but officials all the way from the city on up to the provincial premiere are preventing the search, saying it’s much too expensive and dangerous. The victims’ families and supporters say it’s another example...
Monday, August 7, 2023 – Pipes: prayer, blessing, and communion
August 07, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBA quarry in Minnesota has been a reliable source for the stone used in ceremonial pipes for dozens of tribes throughout the central U.S. and Canada. Other tribes elsewhere found their own local sources for making pipes. We’ll talk about the importance of pipes and the methods for making them passed down through the centuries.
Friday, August 4, 2023 – Cashing in on summer fun
August 04, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBA handful of tribes are venturing into the realm of family fun in the form of water parks, amusement parks, or theme parks. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians just opened a $70 million expansion to its giant Alabama Gulf Coast water park that also offers restaurants and live entertainment venues. The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians has a $75 million deal for a Tennessee theme park that will also feature an interactive look at Cherokee military heroism. As the days of summer vacations begin...
Thursday, August 3, 2023 – Can the high death rates for pregnant Native women be solved?
August 03, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBThe mortality rate for Native American women during pregnancy and childbirth have outpaced most other ethnic groups for decades. The latest numbers just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) show Native maternal mortality far exceeds their white, Black, and Asian counterparts in some states — especially in the upper Midwest. We’ll look at the causes and trends for high Native pregnancy death rates and what health professionals say is the solution.
Wednesday, August 2, 2023 – Looking ahead to the coming school year
August 02, 2023 10:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBOklahoma is among at least 18 states with new laws restricting how public schools can teach history about race and culture. Teachers are now wondering how to inform students about events like the Trail of Tears and the Tulsa Massacre. Some educators are defying the restrictions. Also, the Pointe-au-Chien Tribe in Louisiana is starting a new language immersion school two years after their only elementary school closed. We'll get a snapshot of what Native educators see ahead in the new school y...
Tuesday, August 1, 2023 – Oppenheimer’s lasting nuclear threat for tribes
August 01, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBNative American ranchers and other rural New Mexico residents were among those who saw the flash of the first test of the atomic bomb in 1945. Descendants of the people downwind of the blast say they continue to pay the price with serious health conditions - and tribes also complain leaching from uranium mines to fuel subsequent nuclear reactors pose a daily health threat.
Monday, July 31, 2023 – The lack of reservation law enforcement
July 31, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBThe Fort Belknap Indian Community is the latest tribe to sue the federal government over inadequate law enforcement. A joint legislative resolution passed this year noted “justice has eluded many Native American victims, survivors, and families” as there are not enough officers to cover the more than 1,000 square miles within the reservation boundaries. They’re one of at least three tribes that are taking on what they say is the lack of full federal funding to keep their citizens safe.
Friday, July 28, 2023 – Native Playlist: Nadjiwan, Saltwater Hank, and Brock Stonefish
July 28, 2023 06:01 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBMarc Meriläinen (Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation) helps bring Nadjiwan’s new album The Great Sea to life through his First Nation lens; Saltwater Hank (Ts'msyen)'s vocals in his Native language soar over a brooding country mix on Gal’uunx wil lu Holtga Liimi; and Brock Stonefish (Lenape/Delaware) puts a roots/blues beat behind stories of MMIP, boarding school trauma, and even a jungle dress song on Turtle Island. We'll hear from all three musicians this Friday with host Shawn Spruce.
Thursday, July 27, 2023 – The Menu: federal ag decisions, Native bakery in Raleigh, and the (no) salmon festival
July 27, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBNative American food sovereignty experts will soon have more say into how the U.S. Department of Agriculture approaches everything from crop subsidies to low-income nutrition programs. The agency’s new tribal advisory committee is the latest in a series of steps to add more muscle into its Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative. Plus, a new Lumbee-owned bakery in North Carolina’s capital city is both a spot to pick up tasty macrons and an incubator for other bakers - and the Yurok Tribe’s ann...
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 – Tribes on offense over sports betting
July 26, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBThe Seminole Tribe is poised to have exclusive control of mobile sports betting in Florida just as the NFL season gets started. Their potential windfall is part of a $5 billion compact with the state that — for now — is holding up against court challenges. It’s just one place where tribes are jockeying for better field position in the lucrative and evolving world of sports gaming.
Tuesday, July 25, 2023 – A plan to expand National Monument protections in Arizona
July 25, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBThreats to water and culturally important land propels a dozen tribes to call for a new National Monument designation near the Grand Canyon. The proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument would encompass more than a million acres. Among other things it would place a permanent ban on uranium mining in a place where tribes say such development contaminates the air and water and permanently scars the land.
Monday, July 24, 2023 – Urban design for Native residents
July 24, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBAs much as Native Americans are associated with tribal lands in the U.S., the vast majority of tribal citizens live in urban areas off their reservations. In a few selected cities, Native Americans are among the largest minority groups. Still, cities often lag in design considerations that reflect and respond to cultural and socioeconomic touch points that attract and reinforce Native urban residents. A number of Native planners, designers, and architects are pushing to create new buildings a...
Friday, July 21, 2023 – Do actors make a fair wage?
July 21, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBIf they haven’t already, it’s only a matter of time before your favorite TV shows and movies in production go dark because of the ongoing actors and screenwriters strike. You might think of the it as a fight between A-list celebrities and movie moguls who all get paid many millions of dollars. But the SAG-AFTRA union says not even one in six actors clears the $27,460 annual minimum to qualify for the health insurance plan. The strike has put a hold on several Native acting jobs and Native-led...
Full Interview: Shannon Lee reflects on the legacy of her father Bruce Lee
July 21, 2023 06:45 - 21 minutes - 13.7 MBFifty years after his untimely death, actor and martial arts master Bruce Lee’s legacy resonates with fans across the globe. But Lee has a unique and enduring connection with Native audiences who relate to his philosophical drive, the sense of justice he portrayed on the screen, and how he propelled positive representations of his race in popular media. His films have been translated into at least two Indigenous languages. In this web exclusive audiogram, Shannon Lee, CEO and owner of the Bru...
Thursday, July 20, 2023 – Remembering Bruce Lee’s connection to Native audiences
July 20, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBFifty years after his untimely death, actor and martial arts master Bruce Lee’s legacy resonates with fans across the globe. But Lee has a unique and enduring connection with Native audiences who relate to his philosophical drive, the sense of justice he portrayed on the screen, and how he propelled positive representations of his race in popular media. His films have been translated into at least two Indigenous languages. We’ll reflect on what Bruce Lee means to Native fans. GUESTS Fritz B...
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 – The oral health divide
July 19, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 25.5 MBStructural racism is a contributing factor to the ongoing disparity for Native people when it comes to oral health. That’s the conclusion of a report published this year by a collection of non-profit oral health organizations. The report’s authors say poor oral health has far-reaching, life-long implications. We’ll hear about the need for recruiting and retaining more Native dentists and what else can be done to improve the oral health divide.
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 – Leaving tribes off the map
July 18, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBThe Lake Traverse Reservation is easy to find on most maps put out by the federal government and apps like MapQuest. But the home of the federally recognized Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate is nowhere to be seen on the state’s Department of Transportation map. It’s one of three reservations the agency chooses to leave off. The reasons are complicated and come down to interpretations of the legal definitions of each reservation. We’ll talk about what’s behind the omission and what Native scholars and ...
Monday, July 17, 2023 – Indigenous barbecue traditions
July 17, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBSophisticated barbecue methods predate contact with Europeans. The Indigenous Taino people first introduced pit barbecue to colonial travelers as they wandered through the Caribbean Islands. The barbecue traditions for Native Hawaiians also have a long tradition and a unique, tropical flavor. Native people in between those two locations all developed their own barbecue cooking and seasoning that grew from the ingredients they have on hand. We’ll explore the various styles of barbecue and wher...
Friday, July 14, 2023 – Native style: sustainable fashion
July 14, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBNearly 17 million tons of textiles are thrown away every year, according to estimates by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Some Indigenous fashion designers have an eye and mission to recycle and upcycle clothing or create from more sustainable fabrics as a way to offset the waste in the business that is creating environmental harm. We’ll take a look at the environmentally conscious side of Indigenous fashion.
Thursday, July 13, 2023 – Summer competition traditions
July 13, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBNearly 12,000 amateur athletes over 50 years of age are competing in this year’s National Senior Games in Pittsburgh. The Games have an enduring focus on Indigenous elder athletes. Another long-time annual tournament, the Native American Basketball Invitational, kicks off more than 400 games over five days in Phoenix. We’ll find out who to watch at these notable summer competitions.
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 – Economic development spotlight
July 12, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 25.4 MBThe Nez Perce Tribe completed a number of new real estate acquisitions including a golf course within driving distance of their tribal resort and casino. Tribal officials say the links business was losing members, but is now back in the black. It’s one of several of the big and small tribal enterprises we’re featuring as promising new ventures.
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 – Tribes have limited ability to stop construction projects that disrupt culturally significant places
July 11, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBConstruction on a portion of a nearly $70 million highway expansion project is halted after workers discovered multiple sets of human remains. Tribes say the costly delay and potential project redesign could have been avoid had state transportation officials took warnings about the site seriously more than a quarter century ago. Another project — a luxury apartment building in Miami — is moving ahead, even after workers discovered some human remains and culturally and historically significant...
Monday, July 10, 2023 – Hot enough?
July 10, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBTwo climate tracking agencies say the Earth just reached its hottest average temperature on record and scientists predict it will only get hotter. That has implications for the health and comfort of Native people coping with the heat, and for those whose livelihoods depend on specific climate conditions and access to water. We’ll get perspectives from environmental health experts, farmers, and others about the risks of rising heat and what a hotter future might hold.
Friday, July 7, 2023 – Indigenous access to hallucinogenic medicine
July 07, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBTwo states and several cities have decriminalized the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Many more states are considering legislation to provide more widespread public access to hallucinogens. That has some Indigenous people worried about maintaining an adequate supply of natural psychoactive plants for ceremonies. We’ll hear about the evolving demand for hallucinogenic plants and what practitioners say needs to be done to protect them as the push for legalization continues.
Thursday, July 6, 2023 – Progress in the fight to set orca free
July 06, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.1 MBAfter decades of pressure by animal rights groups and tribes, the Miami Seaquarium announced it will release the captive orca, Lolita, also known as Tokitae. The marine mammal has spent more than a half century in captivity and no one is sure how she will adapt to the wild. The Lummi Tribe considers orca to be relatives and have been pushing for Tokitae’s release to what biologists believe is her home pod in the Pacific Northwest.
Wednesday, July 5, 2023 – Does the end of affirmative action mean fewer Native college students?
July 05, 2023 06:01 - 55 minutes - 5 MBIn his concurrence with the U.S. Supreme Court majority, Justice Clarence Thomas writes that “the color of a person’s skin is irrelevant to that individual’s equal status as a citizen of this nation.” The 6-3 decision does away with more than a half century of giving students of color an advantage in college recruiting in order to diversity the educational and professional population. Proponents of affirmative action say the numbers are clear: doing away with the practice of giving priority t...
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 – Recalling the breakout era for Australia’s Aboriginal bands
July 04, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 25.8 MB(Encore show) At a time when Australian bands like Men At Work, Midnight Oil, and INXS were reaching worldwide recognition, a number of Aboriginal rock and reggae bands were making their own waves in the music world. Names like Coloured Stone, No Fixed Address, and others were getting broader interest from audiences and notched impressive record sales globally. All the while they faced considerable racism and their peoples’ land rights battles, themes that their songs often invoke. We’ll hear...
Monday, July 3, 2023 – Native in the Spotlight: Dr. Jacob Weasel
July 03, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBJacob Weasel (Cheyenne River Sioux) goes down in history as the first Native American to summit Mount Everest. It’s a big step in his goal to climb the highest peak on every continent. The rest of the time, he's an emergency and trauma surgeon at Monument Health Facility in Rapid City, S.D. He also works to mentor young Native Americans, drawing from his own accomplishments to inspire others to follow their dreams.
Friday, June 30, 2023 – The Menu: historic award, new Midwest restaurant, and a new book on corn
June 30, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBWampanoag chef Sherry Pocknett made history this month when she was named the Best Chef of the Northeast by the James Beard Foundation. She’s the first Native woman to be given such an award. Meanwhile, Miijim, a new Native-owned restaurant in La Pointe, Wis. is making waves with an Indigenous menu by Red Cliff Band chef Bryce Stevenson. And the new book Our Precious Corn: Yukwanénste by Rebecca Webster (Oneida) recounts the history and travels of her tribe’s traditional corn. It's all on The...
Thursday, June 29, 2023 – Tribal search and rescue networks
June 29, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBWhether it’s the frozen Alaska tundra or the hot, arid expanse of the Navajo Nation, tribal law enforcement officials, helped out by dedicated volunteers, make up search and rescue systems ready to deploy in a moment’s notice. They have an array of tools, ranging from trained dogs to drones to try and find people reported missing and bring them home safe. We’ll hear from search and rescue professionals about how the methods and technology they use. GUESTS Dan Martinez (Confederated Tribes o...
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 – The Mescalero Apache Reservation at 150
June 28, 2023 09:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBThis year marks 150 years since President Ulysses S. Grant signed the executive order establishing the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Although a fraction of the wide territory the Mescalero originally occupied, the establishment of the New Mexico reservation marked a stable place where the tribe could call home and practice their ceremonies and traditions after decades of conflict with the U.S. Government. It’s now also a center of economic development and natural resource management. GUESTS ...
Tuesday, June 27, 2023 – Southeast Alaska’s salmon emergency
June 27, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBTribes in southeast Alaska are sounding the alarm over low salmon numbers. They’re hoping to work with Canadian First Nations to craft a plan to help revive populations. The state of Alaska moved to halt commercial fishing of chinook salmon to protect orcas that feed on the fish, but a federal appeals court sided with opponents of the ban. The state is restricting sport fishing in Cook Inlet and some other locations. We’ll hear from Native fishers in the region about their concerns over salmo...
Monday, June 26, 2023 – Solving the housing hurdle for domestic violence survivors
June 26, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBThe National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center lists safe, affordable, accessible, and stable housing as one of the most pressing concerns for Native domestic abuse survivors, both on and off the reservation. The lack of housing increases the likelihood of a survivor being drawn into sex trafficking. It can also be the reason someone chooses to stay in an abusive situation. We’ll hear about what’s being done to make housing accessible to survivors broadcasting live from the Women Are Sacred ...
Friday, June 23, 2023 – Stepping into the father role
June 23, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBNative fathers by marriage sometimes have to work a little harder to make sure they fulfil their end of the parenting partnership. Step parents often have to navigate complicated relationship situations like shared child custody, ex-husbands, and divided parent loyalty.
Thursday, June 22, 2023 – Measuring the gains and losses for tribal self-governance
June 22, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBTribes abilities to deliver everything from law enforcement to adequate health care depend on their collective strength when it comes to self-governance. Several legal and policy decisions in the past year have bolstered self-governance in both big and small ways, including a full-throated affirmation of the Indian Child Welfare Act. There were some setbacks too. We’ll assess the state of tribal self-governance in advance of the upcoming self-governance conference in Tulsa, Okla.
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 – Summer solstice traditions
June 21, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBThe longest day of the year is a significant marker of time for many tribes. The summer solstice is a time of traditional celebrations and ceremony. Dozens of tribes throughout history built structures around the sun’s position on June 21. We’ll get an account of some of the tribal stories and traditions as well as some modern acknowledgements of the day.
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 – Arizona tribes face high hurdles to water rights
June 20, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBNearly all tribes in Arizona have a tougher time successfully negotiating rights to the state’s scarce water than other governmental entities. And the requirements necessary for tribes to reach water agreements is tougher in Arizona than in neighboring states. An investigative project by ProPublica and High Country News exposes the concessions tribes face to access water. The stakes are high. On the Navajo Nation, for instance, a nearly-completed medical complex sits empty because there is no...
Monday, June 19, 2023 – Black Seminoles: a story of survival
June 19, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBGroups of freed and fugitive slaves sought refuge in Florida and formed relationships with the Seminoles in the 18th Century. This kinship carried on through the bloody Seminole Wars into the Trail of Tears. Later, members of those groups became known as Seminole Maroons, Seminole Freedmen, or Black Seminoles. Some would find their way to Oklahoma, others to Texas, Mexico, the Caribbean, and some remained in Florida. They formed communities throughout the diaspora and held on to their history...
Friday, June 16, 2023 – ICWA reaffirmed: Victory at the U.S. Supreme Court
June 16, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBThe U.S. Supreme Court decisively rejected what many legal observers considered the most serious challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act in the law’s 45-year history. The ruling is a relief for ICWA supporters, many of whom were fearful of a decision that could turn back or weaken the law that ensures Native foster children a home with Native guardians. We’ll get reaction and analysis from those who have been watching the legal fight closely. You can get more context from Native America Ca...
Thursday, June 15, 2023 – Pueblo baseball through the generations
June 15, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBIt’s the time of year when Pueblo athletes take to the dusty baseball diamonds throughout New Mexico, carrying on a tradition that their grandparents and even great-grandparents helped establish. Baseball is more than just a sport for the teams in the Pueblo leagues. It’s a tribal and family legacy. Plus, analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court's 7-2 decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act and reverse a circuit court ruling.
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 – Canada’s Indigenous communities brace for wildfires
June 14, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.1 MBWildfires in Canada are not just sending clouds of smoke to major U.S. cities. They’re also a threat to residents, including a dozen or more Indigenous communities that were forced to evacuate. The country’s Natural Resources ministry predicts this summer could be the worst wildfire season on record.
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 – Native Bookshelf: Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
June 13, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBWhere else can you get a young adult mystery and a lesson in the Native American Graves Protection Act but from Ojibwe writer Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians)? In Warrior Girl Unearthed, a follow-up to her debut novel The Firekeeper’s Daughter, Boulley catches readers up with the Firekeeper family’s subsequent generation on Sugar Island. As the title suggests, the young protagonist digs into connections to her people and culture she never realized were there.