As a senator and a member of the Joe Biden Administration, Kamala Harris has advocated for tribes and equity for Native Americans, explicitly promising to work with tribes to restore improperly taken lands, defending the Indian Child Welfare Act and addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous people. But her track record as a California attorney general is more complicated. In his short time in office, J.D. Vance has mocked Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and spoke against renaming a national forest in a way that positioned Native Americans as “the enemy”. We’ll get some insights into these two candidates whose positions were just elevated in the presidential election.
Native Vote 2024
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Wednesday, July 24, 2024 — “Voter security” efforts draw criticism from Native advocates
The U.S. House of Representatives just upped the ante on voter ID efforts by passing a bill to require proof of citizenship at polling places. Even though the idea lacks support in the Senate, it’s the latest in a relentless drive for more voting restrictions that Native American voting rights advocates say hinder access. In addition, an effort by the Walker River Paiute Tribe for more equitable voting access is getting pushback over security. We’ll get the latest efforts for equitable voting access.
Commemorating Gary Fife
Gary Fife (Muscogee), “the Voice of Mvskoke”, spent more than a half century working to change the way the journalists cover Indigenous peoples – and was still hosting radio shows and writing a weekly column when he died Sunday at the age of 73.
Fife devoted the last years of his life to his tribe in Oklahoma and the news organization Mvskoke Media, which is owned by the tribe. He was also the first host of National Native News.
Listen to Native America Calling’s commemoration of Gary Fife with guests Angel Ellis (citizen of the Muscogee Nation), director of Mvskoke Media, treasurer for the Indigenous Journalists Association, and Oklahoma Media Center board member; and Sterling Cosper (citizen of the Muscogee Nation), Mvskoke Media editorial board president and Indigenous Journalists Association membership manager.
Through The Decades
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Wednesday, July 27, 2022 — Through The Decades: 1990s
The U.S. Congress passed both the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the Indian Arts And Crafts Act in 1990—two pieces of legislation with significant power to protect culture. On the international front, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation in Mexico rose up in an effort to reclaim their land and resist globalization. Dances With Wolves captured audiences’ attention with a Native cast and a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for Graham Greene, while a new generation of Native writers and directors made their voices heard. Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce remembers the Native ’90s, as part of our series Through The Decades. Shannon Keller O’Loughlin (Choctaw), executive director of the Association on American Indian Affairs, and Vincent Schilling (Akwesasne Mohawk), editor of NativeViewPoint.com and certified Rotten Tomatoes critic.
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Wednesday, July 20, 2022 – Through the Decades: 1980s
The 1980s saw the rise of gaming on Native nations, a momentum that brought about the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988 with revenue quickly hitting $100 million. Wilma Mankiller became the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation and Ben Nighthorse Campbell started his long and historic career as an elected leader. Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce has the next installment of our new series Through the Decades with Dr. James Riding In (Pawnee), a retired professor and founding member of the American Indian Studies program at Arizona State University focusing on repatriation, sacred sites protection, and Pawnee history and culture; Larry Nesper, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and American Indian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of the book The Walleye War: The Struggle for Ojibwe Spearfishing and Treaty Rights; and America Meredith (Cherokee), writer, visual artist, independent curator, and publishing editor of “First American Art Magazine”.
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Wednesday, July 13, 2022 – Through the Decades: the 1970s
Watergate, Vietnam, and disco are some of the major highlights that define the 1970s. For Native people, it’s the decade of the Wounded Knee occupation, Self-determination, the federal Boldt decision, and Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love”. Today on Native America Calling, as we continue our trip through the decades, Shawn Spruce looks at some of the highs and lows of the ‘70s through a Native lens with Dr. David Wilkins (Lumbee), professor at the University of Richmond; Dr. LaNada War Jack (Shoshone-Bannock), writer, activist, and the chair of Indians of All Tribes in San Francisco, CA; Vincent Schilling (Akwesasne Mohawk), editor of NativeViewPoint.com and certified Rotten Tomatoes critic; and Pat Vegas (Mexican/Yaqui/Shoshone descent), singer, songwriter, producer, and bass player for the band Redbone.
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Wednesday, July 6, 2022 — Through the Decades: The 1960s
The 1960s were the genesis of Native American activism. Urban Native communities, formed by the American Indian Urban Relocation program of the 1950s, were tough and deplorable places to live. The American Indian Movement formed as a result and by 1968, the Indian Civil Rights Act was passed. This decade is also marked by the arrival of the color TV, an explosion of (rock) music, and a new style of Native art. In the first episode in our new series “Through the Decades”, Shawn Spruce remembers the politics, significant events, and pop culture that helped shape Native America with Donovin Sprague (Cheyenne River), author, historian, and professor of history at Sheridan College; actress Dawn Little Sky (Standing Rock and Cheyenne River); Dr. Jonathan Tomhave (MHA Nation), lecturer at the University of Washington; America Meredith (Cherokee Nation), publishing editor of First American Art Magazine, art writer, visual artist, and independent curator; and Deanna Aquiar (Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo), director of programs and development for the National Indian Youth Council.
Past Shows
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Friday, July 26, 2024 — Native playlist: Khu.éex and Nuxalk Radio
Two new albums feature Native languages front and center, incorporating traditional storytelling and themes of resilience. Nuxalk Radio is celebrating ten years on the air with compilation of original songs entirely in the Nuxalk language. Nusximta is the result of a call to community members to write songs rooted in cultural tradition and to inspire language revitalization. Indigenous jazz/funk/rock band Khu.éex’ references federal Native relocation programs and other historical issues in their new album, Siyáadlan. We’ll speak with artists about their respective projects.
GUESTS
Preston Singletary (Tlingit), co-founder of Khu.éex’, musician, and glass artist
Captain Raab (Siksika Nation), guitarist and composer for Khu.éex’
Qwaxw (Nuxalk), co-founder and tech manager of Nuxalk Radio
Nuskmata (Nuxalk), artist on the album Nusximta by Nuxalk Radio
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Wednesday, July 24, 2024 — “Voter security” efforts draw criticism from Native advocates
The U.S. House of Representatives just upped the ante on voter ID efforts by passing a bill to require proof of citizenship at polling places. Even though the idea lacks support in the Senate, it’s the latest in a relentless drive for more voting restrictions that Native American voting rights advocates say hinder access. In addition, an effort by the Walker River Paiute Tribe for more equitable voting access is getting pushback over security. We’ll get the latest efforts for equitable voting access.
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Tuesday, July 23, 2024 – Finding new relevance in the history of tribal governance
Even before colonial contact, tribal leaders faced life and death decisions, challenges to their authority, and the judgements of their constituency. They also developed a model of governance that informed America’s burgeoning democracy. Two Native scholars take a look at the successes and stumbles of tribal leadership throughout history. Some of those provide a guide for today’s Native and non-Native leaders. We’ll hear from Dr. David E. Wilkins (Lumbee), professor at the University of Richmond and the author of Indigenous Governance, and Stephen Wall (citizen of the White Earth Nation), faculty emeritus in Indigenous Liberal Studies at the Institute of American Indian Arts and author of American Indian Tribal Governance: A Critical Perspective, about their research that is both a compelling history lesson, and a map for what leaders can become.
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Monday, July 22, 2024 — President Joe Biden drops out & rethinking community landscaping
We’ll get a picture of what’s ahead for Native voters as Democrats muster support for a new presidential candidate.
Also: The spaces around community buildings, public spaces and campuses reflect the people, culture, and land. At Southern Oregon University, a team of Native landscape architects and planners is including native plants, medicines, and foods for a large section of campus. It’s one model for incorporating Native input to connect culture and the larger community.
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Friday, July 19, 2024 — Wakan Gli: the message from the sacred white buffalo calf
Among the earth’s most genetically pure buffalo herds in Yellowstone National Park, a rare white buffalo calf is born. It is considered sacred to surrounding tribes, such as the Lakota, Dakota, Blackfeet, and Shoshone, and was given a name, Wakan Gli, in a naming ceremony. The white calf brings with it a prophecy that some say correctly explains current human struggles with big issues like climate change. We’ll talk with Native culture bearers about the significance of Wakan Gli. We’ll also wrap up our eventful week at the Republican National Convention.
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Thursday, July 18, 2024 – Making the case for a Republican president
The Republican National Convention aims to end on a high note with a triumphant nomination acceptance speech by Donald Trump. It’s his first public comments since the assassination attempt over the weekend. The convention is propelling the expected momentum for the candidate, but we’ll bring it back down to earth to talk about what a Trump Presidency would mean for Native Americans.
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Wednesday, July 17, 2024 – Assessing control of Congress
Republicans hope to build momentum through the week at their national convention to galvanize party faithful—and to convince you to vote for their candidate. Not just the name at the top of the ticket but the Republican candidates to represent you in Congress. But what would a decisive Republican majority in Congress mean for Native American constituents. Are you satisfied with how Congress operates? As the party makes its case on the national stage, we explore what promise and threat Republicans in the legislative branch pose.
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Tuesday, July 16, 2024 – The common ground between Republican and Native American values
Donald Trump appeared in public for the first time since a serious attempt on his life. Delegates at the Republican National Convention heaped adulation on Trump as the parade of Republican voices tore into President Joe Biden’s record. What does the display of Republican values on the national scale look like to Native American voters? Can the momentum from the political spectacle inspire Native votes – and more candidates? We’ll hear arguments over what the current direction of the Republican Party means for the average Native American voter.
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Monday, July 15, 2024 – Wisconsin welcomes the Republican National Convention
The world’s attention is gripped by an assassination attempt against Donald J. Trump, as he is preparing to accept his party’s nomination in Milwaukee, Wisc. Already a tumultuous race, the violence portends a political event like no other. We’ll be in Milwaukee to hear about what is on the political minds of some of the state’s 11 federally recognized tribes as the November election begins to come into focus.