Monday, March 1 - Current Events: (Listen in RealAudio…)
Tribal leaders are attacking the Bush Administration’s proposed budget for Indian Country in ’05, which they say actually decreases tribal funding in critical areas. Nez Perce tribal members are fighting to protect the grave of Old Chief Joseph against a proposed housing development. There are no Happy Meals, in the form of higher education scholarships, for Indian students at the home of the Golden Arches, and now there’s a call for a boycott against Ronald McDonald. Will an Oscar go to a Maori Native teen for her performance in the movie Whale Rider? And there’s something for everyone when a tribal tourism conference includes the Grand Entry at the Denver March Powwow.

Tuesday, March 2 - Read Across America:
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Today is Read Across America Day. It’s an effort to promote reading and literacy on the 100th birthday of the late great Dr. Seuss. Teachers, parents and students are encouraged to highlight the importance of reading. Unfortunately, in Indian Country many students read below their grade level and the number of dropouts is troubling. These fundamental problems can be linked to the inability to read well. The Bush Administration’s Indian Education budget and the Leave No Child Behind Act are presented as solutions to the problems. But are they? And what will it take to increase literacy in Indian Country? Guests include Cindy La Marr of the National Indian Education Association.

Wednesday, March 3 - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): (Listen in RealAudio…)
FASD is a term that is used to describe a group of birth defects that can occur when a woman drinks alcohol or abuses other substances while pregnant, which causes brain damage to a child that lasts a lifetime. Still, people with FASD can be successful in life. The FASD Center for Excellence facilitates the development of comprehensive systems of care that includes prevention, identification and treatment. What is FASD and why does it often go unrecognized, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as mental illness? We know what causes FASD, but how does a person live with its effects? Guests include FASD specialists Candace Shelton and Dan Dubovsky.

Thursday, March 4 - The Indigenous Oscars:
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The winners of this year’s Academy Awards have been announced. The surprise nomination of Maori Native Keisha Castle-Hughes in the Best Actress category has brought acclaim to the movie Whale Rider. But there were other Native filmmakers who produced outstanding movies, and actors who performed great roles but weren’t up for an Oscar, until now. The inaugural presentation of the Native American Awards for Film and TV Movies will be announced this Friday in L.A. All the nominees are Indigenous, and you can cast your vote. What are your favorite Native films and who are your favorite Native actors for 2003? Guests include journalist/producer Roscoe Pond.

Friday, March 5 - Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race:
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The Iditarod has been called the “Last Great Race on Earth,” a race that covers 1,150 miles of the roughest, most beautiful terrain on Mother Earth – pitting man and animal against nature. From Anchorage to Nome, mushers and dog teams race across mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forest, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coasts for more than $700,000 in cash prizes. But the race is more than that. It’s a tribute to Alaska’s past, to an ancient tradition mastered by Alaska Natives, and to a life saving highway that brought serum to the epidemic-stricken village of Nome in 1925. Are Native mushers competing and what are their chances of winning? Guests include Mike Williams, a Yupik musher from Akiak.

Monday, March 8 - Native AmeriCorps:
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America has called upon its citizens in times of adversity. Individuals and groups have unselfishly given their time and talents to respond in the country’s hour of need. During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps offered millions of the unemployed a job and a paycheck. And one can’t forget the famous call to action by President Kennedy to do for your country. Indian communities are all too familiar with hardships and socioeconomic problems. A government program similar to the 30’s CCC is helping tribes address those problems, and at the same time, providing training and an income for tribal members. What is the Tribal Civilian Community Corps? Guests include Hank Oltman of the Corporation for National & Community Service and Stevevost Jim of Navajo Nation AmeriCorps.

Tuesday, March 9 - Saving the San Francisco Peaks:
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The Save the Peaks Coalition based out of Flagstaff is mounting a campaign against an expansion plan by ski resort owners on San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona. The coalition maintains that the mountain is sacred and new development is considered desecration and a violation of religious freedom. But owners of the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort say new development is well within the law, and is supported by the Coconino National Forest Service, which recently released a draft environmental impact statement. The plan will reportedly make snow from wastewater to attract skiers. A 60-day comment period is coming to a close. What will the Forest Service decide? Guests include Robert Tohe of the Save the Peaks Coalition.

Wednesday, March 10 - Schizophrenia:
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A report from the U.S. Surgeon General several years ago revealed that the diagnosis and treatment of mental health illnesses were inadequate. One particular diagnosis, schizophrenia among Native Americans and Alaska Natives, was found to be associated with post-colonial stress and alcoholism, leading to inappropriate diagnosis and treatment. Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental health disorder that causes one to withdraw from society and retreat into a world of delusions. It doesn't discriminate and can be the cause behind anti-social behavior that is seen in Native communities. What is schizophrenia? How is it treated? Is there hope for those with the diagnosis? Guests include Dr. Mary Rousel of the Santa Fe Indian Hospital Behavior Health Services.

Thursday, March 11 - Reorganizing the BIA:
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Efforts to reorganize and streamline the Bureau of Indian Affairs to improve trust relations are being met with resistance by tribal leaders, who are calling for a moratorium on reorganization plans. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is getting involved and has held a hearing to gather testimony. BIA officials say the "to-be" project will make things better by eliminating redundancies, reducing backlogs and providing new trust officers at the local level. While tribal leaders say the plan is creating a top-heavy bureaucracy that does not meet the real need for trust management in Indian Country. Invited guests include Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, vice-chair of Senate Indian Affairs.

Friday, March 12 - Indian in the Spotlight: Lisa Tiger:
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Growing up in Oklahoma, Lisa Tiger had the world at her feet. She was a Class I gymnast, a ballet dancer, a tap dancer, head cheerleader, a diver on the swim team and she coached a boxing club. In the summer of 1992, at the age of 27, she was shocked to learn that she had tested HIV positive. But instead of being ashamed and retreating to a life of isolation, almost immediately she began sharing her story and warning others, especially Native youth, about the dangers of the HIV/AIDS virus. In 1999, her HIV turned to AIDS. But later this month, she is expecting to have her first child. Hear the incredible story of this Muscogee/Seminole/Cherokee woman.

Monday, March 15 - Women & the White House:
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It appears as if John Kerry might be ‘the man’ for the Democrat’s challenge to George W. Bush for the White House. The U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, the sluggish economy, national security, and the mounting deficit are just the tip of the gigantic political iceberg. There are however a number of issues that are of particular interest to women across all socioeconomic and ethnic lines. Equal pay, domestic violence, reproductive rights and family issues lead the list of some of them. What issues have a higher priority for Native women, compared to the rest of American society? Guests include Charon Asetoyer/Native American Women’s Health Education Resource Center.

Tuesday, March 16 - Skyrocketing Tribal Attorney Fees:
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In today’s fast-paced world of political maneuvering and legislative spin doctoring, it’s imperative for tribes to have a savvy team of legal experts at their disposal. Nearly every tribe in the country is spending huge amounts of money to retain attorneys, and Indian law is a multi-million dollar industry. So where do Indian lawyers fit into this lucrative picture? As tribes and their legal issues become more sophisticated, are tribes hiring more Native firms, or at least making an effort? What about inexperienced briefcase warriors? How do they find a seat at the law table? Guests include Pablo Padilla, a University of New Mexico law student from Zuni Pueblo.

Wednesday, March 17 - Effective Strategies for Community Change: (Listen in RealAudio…)
Over the generations, colonialism and devastating federal policies have negatively impacted Native communities. For the most part, Native culture has endured, but we’ve paid a high price. Today, the influences of drugs, crime, abuse and physical and spiritual illness are real threats. An organization is seeking to re-awaken wellness for Native men and women by incorporating innovative technology and present-day communication as tools for effective community change. What is lacking in the wellness of Native men and women? And how can a Native community acquire tools to heal community? Guests include Pamela Iron of Health Promotion for Women and Billy Rogers of the Native Wellness Institute.

Thursday, March 18 - Please Do Not Touch the Indians:
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What do Sister Coyote, Brother Raven and Mister Wolf have in common, besides sounding like characters of a child’s fairytale? They are characters in a play called ‘Please Do No Touch the Indians.’ It’s a tender and heart-wrenching tale that portrays the struggles and dreams of Native Americans through history, using animal characters and social biases that depict the life struggles and life experiences of Native American love, laughter and survival. Is this play a realistic image of who Native people really are? Do Indians advance certain stereotypes of themselves? Guests include singer/songwriter Arigon Starr of the Kickapoo Nation and director Randy Reinholz of the Choctaw Nation.

Friday, March 19 - The Art of Beadwork:
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Native beadwork is a unique art form recognized throughout the world. Native people have developed this talent for beadwork over the past five centuries, since being introduced to glass beads by Europeans. Today numerous items from clothing, to bags, to ceremonial items are adorned with beads. Tribes, clans, and families have adopted their own specialized designs and colors, although many are reproduced without knowledge of their origins. Different regions of Turtle Island have developed distinct methods and techniques. What’s the difference between a peyote stitch and a lazy stitch? Who does your beadwork? Guests include Amy Tall Chief of the Osage Nation.

Monday, March 22 - Music Maker: Lucie Idlout
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Native singers and songwriters are using contemporary rhythms and styles in declaring the spirit and legacy of First Nations people. One of the latest voices originates from the newest of Canada’s territories – Nunavut. Inuk singer and songwriter Lucie Idlout’s powerful voice has been compared to the crooning of Etta James and the throaty energy of Janis Joplin. Lucie’s musical style is in your face and unassailable, and definitely not for the fainthearted. Her debut CD ‘E5770 - My Mother’s Name’ is our highlighted musical choice for March. What drives this brave woman’s music? And what influence does her traditional Inuk culture have on her contemporary style?

Tuesday, March 23 - It’s Taking a Village:
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Child care has always been problematic in Indian Country. But lobbying efforts are finally seeing positive results. In 1998 the Tribal Child Care Technical Assistance Center (TriTAC) was established by the Child Care Bureau. TriTAC assists tribal governments and organizations in their efforts to enhance the quality, affordability and availability of child care. TriTAC also supports tribal communities in their efforts to coordinate early childhood delivery systems by promoting linkages between state, tribal and local early childhood education programs. What difference is the center making for Native children and families? Guests include Doris Running Crane of the Blackfeet Nation and JoAnn Elliot.

Wednesday, March 24 - Hiring the Handicapped: ENCORE PRESENTATION (Listen in RealAudio…)
Figures for the country’s unemployment rate show there are 9 million people out of work. And with the slowdown in the economy, the job-hunting outlook appears bleak. And for people with disabilities, getting a job seems especially impossible. Aside from their own physical drawbacks, handicapped people still face social stigmas that hinder their efforts to be productive citizens. A Native woman, who relies on a wheelchair to get around, is the newest spokesperson to educate the public that those who are physically challenged can be employable. Would you hire a handicap? Guests include Cinda Hughes, Miss Wheelchair America 2004 and a member of the Kiowa Nation.

Thursday, March 25 - Paying for Political Pull
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The recent disclosure of a six-figure donation to a ‘think tank’ from a Louisiana casino tribe has raised some eyebrows in D.C. It’s not so much the amount of money that’s the issue, but rather, the advise to give the money by the tribe’s paid lobbyists. Similar instances in the past has resulted in Senator John McCain of Arizona to comment that such donations are ‘disgraceful,’ and warrant hearings to investigate the use of casino revenue to pay lobbyists. What’s all the fuss about? Don’t organizations and corporate entities fork over mega-bucks for political influence? Or is it because tribes are playing the same game with the ‘big boys?’ Is handing over tribal casino revenue to D.C. insiders a waste, when poverty and dire social needs prevail on reservations? Invited guests include Governor Stuwart Paisano/Sandia Pueblo and Chairman Ernest Stevens, Jr./National Indian Gaming Association.

Friday, March 26 - Native Heroines:
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March is National Women’s History month. Throughout the country people are remembering and honoring great women in history. Who are the great women in Native American history? Most know of or have heard of prominent Native American women like Winona LaDuke, Wilma Mankiller, Ada Deer, Dr. Annie Wauneka, Anna Mae Pictou Aquash, Sacajawea, Elizabeth Peratrovich and PFC. Lori Piestewa, but many unspoken Native women heroes are affecting positive change, and making valuable and tremendous differences in our Native communities. Who are they? Join us to honor Native American women heroes, past and present.

Monday, March 29 - Seward’s Day: From the Native Perspective: (Listen in RealAudio…)
In October, Columbus Day is celebrated by elementary school students learning about the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, the ships that carried a lost navigator to the shores of America. Indians reject honoring a man that signaled the beginning of the colonization of Turtle Island. Most students don’t learn about the true history behind the man, Columbus. In Alaska, a day in March commemorates the day the U.S. ‘bought’ the Alaska territory from Russia. What is the true history of this event, and its impact on Alaska’s Native people? Do Native people see it only as a day away from the office? Are Alaska’s school children getting the whole truth of Seward’s Folly? Guests Don Bremner Tlingit, from Yakutat, Alaska.

Tuesday, March 30 - Prometheus Project: Colonizing the Moon and Beyond: (Listen in RealAudio…)
According to Greek mythology, Prometheus was the wisest of the Titans, who gave the gift of fire to humanity. The name also means 'forethought.' The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has chosen the name for a project to conduct comprehensive exploration of the outermost planets as well as Mars. Nuclear power is seen as the only way to accomplish this. However, there are those who are apprehensive of the use of nuclear material. Project Prometheus is a small part of expanded space proposals that President Bush outlined in the State of the Union Address. What is the Prometheus Project? What are the risks and benefits for humanity? Guests include Alan Newhouse/National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Bruce Gagnon/Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space.


Wednesday, March 31 - Book of the Month: Indigenous American Women: (Listen in RealAudio…)
In the negative connotation, the word feminist is a label given to a woman who’s emerged beyond the paradigm of a woman as seen in a male dominated society. Conversely, men are seen as ‘ambitious or as one who takes the bull by the horns kind of guy’ when striving for success. Historically, Indigenous women have had traditional roles and many tribes functioned as matriarchal societies. Oklahoma Choctaw Devon Abbot Mihesuah’s newest book, is a frank, powerful adventure that ‘examines the overlooked role of Native women’ and ‘the ongoing struggles against a centuries-0ld legacy of colonial disempowerment.' Indigenous American Women: Decolonization, Empowerment, Activism is our Book of The Month. Guest is Devon Abbot Mihesuah/scholar,professor Northern Arizona University.

Thursday, April 1 - Rez Dogs Gone Wild:
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According to the latest census report, rez dogs are the fastest growing group of canines in the country. But this dramatic rise in population has its drawbacks. Many rez dogs are finding themselves homeless and without occupation. Quality health care is lacking and the biggest problem is that there is no funding for rez dog obedience school. What about the No Dogs Left Behind Act? And they say you can take the dog from the rez, but you can’t take the rez from the dog. So what happens when a rez dog is adopted, is he or she still a rez dog? What influence are non-rez dogs having on this group? What does the future hold for Indian man’s best friend?

Friday, April 2 - Black Hills Still Not For Sale:
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The ‘Black Hills Are Not For Sale’ is a rallying cry for the Great Sioux Nation of the Dakotas. The Oglala people and their Sioux allies still believe that the U.S. government took this sacred land illegally and unconstitutionally in 1877. The U.S. Indian Claims Commission offered the tribe more than $100 million for payment in 1980, but it was refused. A civil lawsuit was filed that same year to quiet title to the land but has never been resolved. The settlement money has been building interest since 1980 and now stands at between $700-800 million. Should the money be disbursed or should the holdout remain? Guests include Tim Giago of the Lakota Nation, publisher of the Lakota Journal.

Monday, April 5 - Current Events:
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The National Indian Taco Championships is scheduled in Oklahoma during Pawhuska Heritage Day. Do you have a secret recipe that could take top prize? Are you interested in producing film and television from a Native perspective? The Institute of American Indian Arts is pleased to announce its first Summer Film and Television Workshop co-sponsored by ABC-TV. The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) is looking for a visionary leader. Do you know the right person for the job? And the National Indian Youth Academy is looking for Native students for police training this summer at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Academy.

Tuesday, April 6 - Who’s Responsible For Public Health?
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The Indian Health Services is a federal agency, directed to provide health care services in Indian Country. Besides Native communities having adequate health care services, they need safe water to drink, clean air to breath and appropriate waste removal for good public health. Still, there remains a number of public health problems that go unchecked on reservations. What factors interfere with ensuring that Native people are healthy? What’s the individual’s responsibility in limiting certain risk factors that create public health problems? What is the responsibility of state and federal government? And are there examples that show what tribes can do to address community and public health issues? Invited guest include Jacqueline Left Hand Bull/Northern Plains Health Start.

Wednesday, April 7 - National Indian Gaming Commission:(Listen in RealAudio…)
There are critics of tribal casinos who argue that gaming operations are not properly monitored or regulated. But the NIGC is an independent federal regulatory agency set up to provide oversight of gambling on Indian lands. The NIGC's mission is to shield tribal casinos from organized crime, ensure that tribes are the primary beneficiaries of their gaming operations, and assure that gaming is conducted fairly and honestly by both the operator and the player. But does the commission have teeth when it comes to enforcing the policies and goals of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act? Guests include NIGC Commissioner Cloyce “Chuck” Choney of the Comanche Nation.

Thursday, April 8 - The Leech and the Earthworm:
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Taking its name from a folktale about a deadly lie, the documentary film ‘The Leech and the Earthworm’ begins, “This is what the white man told us…life will be better if you come with us.” Indigenous people look at western science and the age of biotechnology with a trepidation and unease born of history’s lessons. Focusing on issues around exploitation of blood taken from First Nation islanders, the film uses impressionistic image collages, effective scoring, archive footage and creative graphics to trace a centuries-old lineage of abuse. What is bio-piracy and bio-colonialism? Guests include Debra Harry, director of Indigenous Peoples Council on Bio-colonialism.

Friday, April 9 - Honoring Oñate?:
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More than four centuries after he arrived from Mexico, Juan de Oñate is still motivating conflict in the valleys of the Rio Grande. In 1598, Oñate began his armed military expedition into New Mexico to colonize tribal villages in the name of the Spanish Crown. Historical accounts show that this conquistador accomplished his goal through violence, brutality and slavery. In 1998 the cities of Albuquerque and El Paso decided to commemorate the 400-year anniversary of Oñate’s entrance. But their plans were met with heavy resistance and Albuquerque’s Cuarto Centenario project has yet to be completed six years later. Should Oñate be celebrated? Guests include Santa Clara Pueblo artist Nora Naranjo-Morse.

Monday, April 12 - ENCORE: Change by Consent or Conflict?:
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Native people take pride in our longevity and the survival of our traditional cultures. Some Eastern tribes point out their traditional governance being used as a model in the development of the U.S. Constitution. Pueblo tribes in the Southwest call attention to the fact that one of their governing structures has survived Columbus. However, in Indian Country, there are instances where tribal governments are under attack from within. Tribal members are recalling tribal leadership and seizing tribal buildings under force. Then the federal government and the legal system are called in to calm tempers. Is resorting to antagonism the answer to changing leadership?

Tuesday, April 13 - Give Peace A Chance:
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With the nation and the world focusing on war, does peace really have a chance? There was talk early in the Democratic race for President of creating a U.S. Department of Peace. Will that eventually come about? What about the cries for peace among indigenous peoples, are they being heard? The Peace and Dignity Run across the Americas is set to begin soon. And there is an international education program called PeaceJam built around Nobel Peace Laureates who work personally with youth to pass on the spirit, skills and wisdom they embody. Guests include Richard Martin, co-coordinator of the Peace and Dignity Run Alaska.

Wednesday, April 14 - Sand Creek Massacre Memorial:
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In 1864, in what became known as the Sand Creek Massacre, 163 members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes were killed by the Colorado cavalry. Investigations showed what eyewitnesses had reported, that more than 100 of the victims were women, children and infants. It is a day that will never be forgotten by Native people. Recently, an empathetic businessman bought the land containing the massacre site and donated it to the tribes. They turned it over to the National Park Service who announced they will create the country’s first national historic site dedicated solely to a massacre. Why is this event so important in the annals of American history?

Thursday, April 15 - Indian In The Spotlight: Floyd Red Crow Westerman:(Listen in RealAudio…)
Hollywood’s history of portraying Indians in films hasn’t garnered a rating of one star. Not only were Indian characters played by non-Natives and stereotyped as uncivilized savages, their roles were little more that a glimpse on the screen, or ended up on the cutting floor. Slowly, films with Native actors and characters are becoming more true to life. Things have been changing in front of, as well as behind, the camera for Native people. A Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota actor has been in Hollywood for over 20 years. With more that 20 films and television roles to his credit, Floyd Red Crow Westerman has had a part in reversing the trend. He returns to the big screen in his newest role in the recently released adventure drama, Hidalgo. But he’s not only a renowned American Indian actor; he’s a singer, songwriter and activist, who has the interests of Indian people close to his heart.

Friday, April 16 - Do You Believe in UFO’s and Bigfoot:
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There are a variety of interpretations by scientists over ancient pictographs and drawings by Native Americans that appear to depict celestial objects and strange two-legged beings. Some tribes have stories and legends that explain such depictions and are kept alive as a part of the culture. Yet there are those who are skeptical or require physical proof that such things do exist. And widely known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch, there have been a number of reported sightings of an ape-like creature as well in Indian Country. What legends does your tribe have pertaining to UFO’s and Bigfoot? Guests include Mel Skaham of the Yakama Nation and Dick Akers, director of the Willard J. Vogel Study.

Monday, April 19 - Alcohol Poisoning of Native Students:
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The abuse of alcohol is a constant problem that negatively impacts many North American Indigenous individuals and families. The reasons and excuses given for its existence are as numerous as the number of people it affects. It has become a deadly addiction. The recent reports of several young Native people who’ve perished because of alcohol poisoning make it a priority for tribes to address. Where do children get alcohol? Is it a fatal mistake or is it a mark of disparity? What of the individual’s decision-- what compels one to drink to excess? Guests include David Anderson/Assistant Secretary Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Tuesday, April 20 - Music Maker Edition: In Studio with Jana: (Listen in RealAudio…)
As beautiful as she is talented, this award-winning Lumbee pop singer is the first Native to make the Billboard Dance Music charts and has been referred to as the Native J-Lo. Despite growing acclaim, media attention, and a cross-cultural/cross-genre entertainment style, this 'urban Indian' has embraced her Native heritage. Aside from music, she nurtures her message of education to all young people. The high-energy, rave dance beat will radiate from Studio 49 as Jana joins us live for our April 2004 Music Maker Edition.

Wednesday, April 21 - Gathering of Stations:
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The spirit and heartbeat of Indian Country will originate from Albuquerque during Native American Week. Dancers, crafts, events, and who’s who in Indian Country will make the Duke City their home for a few days. The National Federation of Community Broadcasters, a national organization that includes many tribal radio stations, will conduct its annual conference this week. Many tribal radio station staff will attend. One event, the Gathering of Stations, is a multi-talented benefit concert for the Native Radio Program Fund. In studio guests include KIDE station manager Joe Orozco, Jim Boyd, Chester Knight and the Black Eagle drum group.

Thursday, April 22 - Building Up Indian Country:
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The quantity and quality of homes and building construction in Native communities is often criticized. Dilapidated buildings on tribal lands are an eyesore and a public health problem, endangering tribal members. People complain that federal and tribal governments are doing too little and construction companies are sloppy and substandard. How do tribes establish quality construction standards? What are the mechanisms of enforcing such standards? Could a proposed American Indian Construction Management Endowment be the key to open the door of opportunity for construction in Indian Country? Guests include Peterson Zah/Advisor-Arizona State University Office of Indian Affairs.

Friday, April 23 - Why Is My Child Different?
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Parents have the greatest of expectations for their children. It isn’t any different for Native families. For a majority of families, these hopes and dreams happen without interference or difficulty. However, there are children that behave differently than what is considered ‘normal.' They seem to be in a world of their own, oblivious to society around them. They fixate on repetitive phrases or motions. And the typical education process doesn’t seem to work for them. These and other symptoms can be a result of abnormal brain structure and function, symptoms evident in those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. But what is ASD? Is it genetic? And what options are available to Native children with ASD? Guests include Emma Foster/Eastern Navajo Agency and Dr. John Russo/Indian Health Service.

Monday, April 26 - The Psychology Of The Warrior Spirit:
(Listen in RealAudio…)
Indigenous peoples take pride and solace in the survival of their heritage, in spite of the generations of physical and mental assaults directed at them. Today’s contemporary battles with alcoholism, diabetes, depression, suicide, domestic violence and other maladies shorten or reduce the quality of life for Native people. Western medicine has a place in the care of those who suffer these afflictions. However, a group of Native mental health practitioners feel a spiritual disconnect exists and is lacking in present day therapies. They point to the legacy of a warrior, who protected and defended the people from harm. The warrior spirit is needed to combat these mental health disorders. How can modern medicine incorporate the warrior spirit to combat modern mental health assaults? Guests include Rose Clark, PhD and /Native Wholistic Specialists, Inc.

Tuesday, April 27 - Sovereignty and The World View:
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There were congressional hearings of the topic of sovereignty this week in Washington, D.C. Though it would seem that tribes would be given an opportunity to represent that concept to the congressional panel, they were nowhere in site. This was because the Administration was defending its decision to detain and prosecute suspected terrorists. The Administration proclaims it is a sovereign nation and can take any actions to protect itself from aggression. Ironically, the United States is an occupying country. How different is this from the history of U.S. aggression on Indian nations? Are their different kinds of sovereignty? Guests to be announced.

Wednesday, April 28 - Book Of The Month: Mike and a Lynx Called Kitty:(Listen in RealAudio…)
Growing up on Kodiak Island in Alaska, Mike Kerr lived adventures solely exclusive of his Alutiiq culture. In his latter years, he’s put to print those boyhood adventures in a story of a young boy who breaks his ankle in a fishing boat accident as well as other escapades. One part of the story includes his fascination with a unlikely pet. Mike Kerr lived these experiences and in the book, Mike and a Lynx Called Kitty, he tells the story in a heartwarming, appealing way for children and adults. The book’s been compared to other classics, of the friendship between a boy and a pet. Guest Mike Kerr/author.

Thursday, April 29 - Putting On The Green In Indian Country:(Listen in RealAudio…)
A number of devastating wild fires ravaged several reservations at the height of the fire season last year. From the northwest, to the Gulf of Florida, the fires scorched tribal lands or lands close to them. The immediate effects go without mentioning. However, the residual affects of soil erosion and terrain destruction remain to be seen. The Arbor Day Foundation works to promote the planting of trees. The trees and other vegetation aid in the protection of the soil. The last Friday of April has been designated as Arbor Day, to get people to plant a tree or two. What can you do to give your community living green? What can tribes do to address the fires of last year. Guests include Linda Burson/community activist for conservation.

Friday, April 30 - Family Spirit: (Listen in RealAudio…)
With the rising numbers of teenage pregnancies what help is there for these young parents? What can they do to become better parents and raise healthy, well-balanced children at such a young age? Since the mid-90ties, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has operated a program aimed directly at teen parents. "Family Spirit" started out as a breast-feeding program but has expanded to include teen fathers and helps both parents learn good parenting skills. They have several field offices across the country and work with specific tribes. Guests include Kristen Speakman, Field Liason for the Family Spirit Program in Albuquerque, NM.

Monday, May 3 - Current Events April 2004:
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There’s a call out to tribes to apply for grant monies to be used to restore historical sacred sites and to improve water systems. With Mother’s Day around the corner, there’re two events that will honor Mother Earth. A diabetes and heart disease conference is promoting the use of traditional foods to fight the diseases. Runners and bikers are trekking across Indian Country, to state publicly the sacredness of life and honor lost Native warriors. These and other events will take place across Native America. What happening in your corner of Indian Country?

Tuesday, May 4 - Programmatic Or Problematic: Missouri River: (Listen in RealAudio…)
Historically, tribes with traditional lands along the Missouri River have had little success trying to get the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to grant them more authority over the management of these lands, especially the riverbanks. But over the past two years 24 tribes from South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Nebraska have been consulting and negotiating with Corps’ officials. The result is a historic agreement that theoretically will give tribes more control of cultural sites, including burial grounds. Does this mean tribes will help decide water levels within the Corps’ Missouri River dams and reservoirs system? Guests include Larry Janis/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Wednesday, May 5 - Summer Camps for Native Youth:
(Listen in RealAudio…)
Summer is right around the corner and there are several wonderful opportunities for Native youth to get involved with. From academics, to the physical fitness camps, and from Alaska to the East Coast, plenty of opportunity abounds. Tune in and listen to some of the terrific events or call in with your own ideas. Guests include Kristen Speakman, of the Native Vision camp.

Thursday, May 6 -My Aching Back:
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Studies done by health care researchers and insurance companies have shown complaints of back pain are among the top ten reasons for absenteeism from work. But when one's back hurts, what can one do? There are a myriad of treatments, from diet and manipulation, to out right surgery to try and alleviate the pain. For Native Americans and Alaska Natives served by the Indian Health Service, extensive evaluation is usually contracted to outside providers. But how do Natives with back pain get adequate quality of care when it comes debilitating back pain? And where does traditional methods come in for the care of those with back pain? Guests to be announced.

Friday, May 7 - Incarcerated Moms:
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While many families prepare to celebrate Mother's Day with a Sunday brunch or special outing with kids and moms, what about our mothers who are in jail or prison? What does this holiday mean to them and their kids? How are they celebrating or contemplating their roles as mothers? How has jail time changed their perspective on parenting? How do their children cope with having a mother in jail?

Monday, May 10 - Are Native People Racist?:
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An uproar spread across Indian Country immediately following the performance by OutKast at the Grammy Awards. More recently, a heckler not only disrupted the performance of a Native rap group, but also reverted to racist remarks and suggested the band, ‘Go back to where you came from.’ It isn’t very hard to