Native America Calling

Thursday, April 23, 2015 – Mister Native American Pageants

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If you think about pageant royalty, you probably imagine smiling young princesses, queens and misses looking their best and wearing a crown and sash. In Native America, Mr. Indian pageants may be gaining in popularity. What do their pageants look like? Who are the men running for these titles? What do you think about the idea of young men representing our schools and tribal communities with a crown and a sash?

Guests: 

Turner Went-Worth Hunt (Muscogee Creek) – Outgoing Mr. Indian OU

Dave Nezzie (Navajo) – past Mr. Indian Arizona State University and a law student at UNM

Brandon Peltier (Pima Maricopa) – Mr. Indian Fairfax High School

Beverly Stoelije  – Professor Emerita at Indiana University in the Department of Anthropology

Break Music: Crow Hop (song) Black Lodge (artist) Enter the Circle – Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live At Coeur D’Alene (album)

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 – Sainthood for Junipero Serra

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Junipero Serra has been called “the evangelizer of the west” for his legacy founding missions in California. In January, Pope Francis announced that he will make the 18th-century missionary a saint. But for tribes in California, Serra represents colonization, the eradication of Indigenous language and culture, and a religious system responsible for death and destruction of tribes and their members. Are the experiences of Native people at the hands of Catholic missionaries being swept under the rug by the church? How can religious leaders come to terms with their role in the history of America? Join us as we explore the life of Junipero Serra, his legacy and the controversy over his canonization by the Catholic Church.

Guests:

Steven Hackel – professor of history, University of California, Riverside

Valentin Lopez (Amah Mutsun Tribal Band) – Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band

 

Tuesday, April 21, 2015 – Emotions And Language Revitalization

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We all agree that it is important to speak our Indigenous languages. Learning a language is hard work and it’s even harder to for an entire community to start speaking again. Some feel that it is critically important to continue a language with only a few speakers left. But not everyone is able to spend the time learning their Indigenous language. This can lead to a range of emotions, including guilt. Is feeling guilty for not speaking your language a good thing? Can it motivate you to get moving? Or does it create an overwhelming feeling of fatalism? Learning a language is much more than just memorizing the words or even speaking with someone in conversation. How can communities and individuals prepare for the emotions associated with reviving their language? Guests: Gerald Hill (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin) – president of the board of directors for the Indigenous Language Institute Joshua Hinson (Chickasaw) – director of the Chickasaw Language Revitalization Program

Break Music: Sheldon Sundown (artist) Corn Dance (song) Drum/ Smoke n’ Round Dance

Monday, April 20, 2015 – Indian Child Welfare Act Update

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A proposed new rule and ongoing lawsuit may lead to changes in the Indian Child Welfare Act, or ICWA. The Bureau of Indian Affairs proposed last month that a new subpart of ICWA be created to improve the law by updating regulations for state courts and child welfare agencies. A lawsuit, Oglala Sioux Tribe vs. Van Hunnik, is moving to trial. The plaintiffs (Oglala Sioux Tribe) received a favorable ruling when a federal judge, Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, agreed the state was violating ICWA. State lawmakers in Nebraska and Alaska are also considering new legislation related to ICWA. Do you think changes in the Indian Child Welfare Act would help protect Native children?

Guests:
Colby Coash – Nebraska State Senator
Dana Hannah – private practice attorney representing the Oglala Sioux Tribe
Addie Smith – government affairs associate for the National Indian Child Welfare Association

Break Music: Scatter Their Own (artist) Earth and Sky (song) Catch a Fire

Friday, April 17, 2015 – California Drought  

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California is entering their fourth year of a drought that has cost the state billions in agriculture revenue and thousands of jobs. On April 1, California Governor Jerry Brown, speaking from a dry patch of dead grass, issued an executive order to implement mandatory water restrictions across the state. Communities are now required to reduce water usage by 25 percent, although some cities and towns will have to cut current usage more than others. How has the drought affected California tribes? Are tribes required to enforce the mandatory reduction in water use? What steps can tribes take, both in California and other western states, to adjust to drought conditions?

Guests:  

Rod Mendes (Karuk) – Director of the Office of Emergency Services for the Hoopa Valley Tribe

Heather Hostler (Hoopa) – Chief Deputy, Tribal Advisor, Office of Governor Brown

Chairman Mickey Gemmill (Madesi band of the Pit River Tribe) – Chairman of the Pit River Tribe

Break Music: Henry Kapono (artist) Heeia (song) The Wild Hawiian

Thursday, April 16, 2015 – Honor Runs

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Some Native Americans remember violence experienced by their ancestors through journeys across the lands where those events took place. They remember the Fort Robinson outbreak and Sand Creek Massacre with healing runs, the Wounded Knee Massacre with a horse ride and the Trail of Tears with a bike ride.  What is the purpose of remembering these events through walks and rides? Do you think it is healing or harmful to retrace these trails and remember those atrocities? 

Guests:
Lynette Two Bulls (Oglala Lakota) – director of Yellow Bird and coordinator of the Fort Robinson Outbreak Spiritual Run
Joseph Erb (Cherokee) – coordinato, Remember the Removal Bike Ride
Dr. Lisa Grayshield (Washoe) – associate professor in counseling and psychology, New Mexico State University
Dana Eldridge (Diné) – coordinator for Nihígaal Beé Iiná

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 – Book of the Month: “Wakpá Wanági,Ghost River”

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Trevino L. Brings Plenty (Cheyenne River Sioux) started writing when he was a teenager. Over the past 10 years, his writing has evolved from a hobby to published works of poetry. His latest publication, “Wakpá Wanági,Ghost River,” is a reflection on his life and people. The book features poems that explore the writer’s connection to his homeland in South Dakota and his interactions with people and place as a social worker in Oregon. We invite you to celebrate National Poetry Month (#npm15) with us and our April Book of the Month author —Trevino L. Brings Plenty. 

Follow this conversation with Native America Calling’s hashtag: #BringsPlentyPoetry 

Tuesday, April 14, 2015 – Online Gambling For Tribal Nations 

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Gaming has been profitable for some tribes, but others struggle to turn a profit and repay loans. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 made online gambling illegal, but states can also create laws that allow some types of online gambling.  Only three states in the US have legalized online gambling, although more are currently considering legislation. Could online gaming be a profitable venture for tribes? Or will it pull money away from traditional brick-and-mortar tribal casinos? Should tribes be able to extend their gaming rights to the internet? Do you want your tribe to venture into online gaming?  

Guests:  

Victor Rocha (Pechanga Tribe of Luiseno Indians) – owner and editor of Pechanga.net 

Dr. Gavin Clarkson (Choctaw Nation) – professor of finance and business law at New Mexico State University

Joe Valandra (Rosebud Sioux) – chairman and CEO of Great Luck LLC

Break Music: Tribe Called Red feat. Northern Voice (artist) Sisters (song) Nation II Nation

 

Monday, April 13, 2015 – Autopsies vs. The Sacred 

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In February, the families of Autumn Irene Martineau (Fond du Lac) and Mushkoob Aubid (Mille Lac) successfully fought to keep their deceased loved ones from undergoing autopsies. According to the families, autopsies would have violated their religious and cultural practices. Minnesota state lawmakers are now considering legislation that would allow religious objections to autopsies. In some cultures, autopsies are considered a spiritual violation and a disruption to the grieving process. In other cultures, autopsies are viewed as a way to provide valuable information and bring people to justice. Do autopsies go against your values and traditions? Should families be required to compromise their values and allow an autopsy when there are unanswered questions about why a person died?

 

Guests:

Gail Kulick – attorney and lobbyist for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives

Dr. Mary Ann Sens – medical examiner for eight Minnesota counties, professor of pathology at the University of North Dakota and the coroner for Grand Forks County

Break Music: Naive Funk (song) Burning Sky (alum) Blood of the Sky

Friday, April 10, 2015 – April Music Maker: Karina Moeller

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The soulful music of Inuit singer Karina Moeller is one way to jump into spring. Many people know her as one of the voices of the funk-inspired group Pamyua. Her new album “Simplify” puts the spotlight on her voice and musical ability, including her songwriting skills. The 12-track CD includes the sound of her loved ones and her Inuit culture. There are also gracefully constructed songs that are sure to feed any listener’s thirst for a little Indigenous R&B. We invite you to join us as we open our hour to Karina Moeller, our April Music Maker.

Karina Moeller on Facebook

Break Music: Inuk (song) Karina Moeller (artist) Simplify (album)

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