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Indian Country Today is branching out into television news. The operation is moving to Phoenix, Ariz. We’ll talk with editor Mark Trahant about big plans for the future. Also journalism students at the University of Montana are gearing up for the annual project to report on the state’s Native residents. We’ll talk with the program director about this year’s focus on missing and murdered Indigenous women. Tune in for our news round up.

Guests:

Carly Bad Heart Bull (Flandreau Santee Sioux) – descendant of Chief Cloud Man and community advocate

Kalen Goodluck (Diné, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian) –  independent journalist who covers business, environment and tribal affairs

Mark Trahant (Shoshone Bannock) –  editor of Indian Country Today 

Jason Begay Navajo associate professor and director of Native American Journalism Projects at The University of Montana School of Journalism

Jordynn Paz (Apsáalooke) –  student at the University of Montana

Luke Nicholson (Coeur d’Alene) –  student reporter

Break Music:  Elders Land Ballad (song) Paula Nelson (artist) C.H.A.N.T. Cherokee Hope And New Traditions (album)

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Have you gotten a call from someone at the “security department” warning you about an outstanding warrant? Or the caller says you need to reveal personal information to them or you will lose your Social Security benefits. The Federal Trade Commission says 1.1 million people reported being scam victims in 2017. Most of those scams were over the phone. Romance scams reported to the FBI tripled over the past five years. A Navajo Nation Council delegate admitted on social media that he used poor judgement by sending a compromising video of himself to someone who contacted him online. The recipient then demanded money, threatening to release the video publicly. We’ll get an update on different kinds of scams and how to avoid them.

Guests:

Shawn Spruce (Laguna Pueblo) – programs consultant at First Nations Development Institute

Monica Vaca – associate director in the bureau of consumer protection at the Federal Trade Commission

Kimberly Yellow Robe (Rosebud Sioux ) – Southwest Area Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration

Mentioned on the show today:

How to report Fraud to SSA Office of the Inspector General:
OIG Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or online

Block scam calls with Hiya

FTC: Stop Unwanted Robocalls and Texts

FTC: Growing wave of Social Security imposters overtakes IRS scam

FTC: Romance scams rank number one on total reported losses

Break Music:  Change of Life (song) Young Bird (artist) Change Of Life (album)

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Complaints against the Wolf Point School District include unequal treatment of Native students, bullying and even staff members using racial slurs. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating the claims. The Fort Peck Assiniboine Sioux Tribes filed a complaint with the help of the Montana American Civil Liberties Union. We’ll learn more with some of those involved with the case.

Guests:

Lillian Alvernaz (Dakota/Nakoda Indigenous) – justice legal fellow at American Civil Liberties Union of Montana

Angeline Cheek (Fort Peck Assiniboine Sioux Tribes) – grassroots community organizer

Louella Douglas Contreras (Fort Peck Assiniboine Sioux Tribes) – mother of three children in Wolf Point schools

Meg Singer (Navajo) – Indigenous justice program manager for ACLU of Montana

Break Music: In My Heart (song) Alex Smith (artist) Rain in July – Native American Vocal Harmony (album)

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Organizers bill it as the ‘world’s largest powwow.’ This year’s Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque is again expected to draw thousands of powwow dancers and spectators from across the country. We’re broadcasting live from the arena to connect you with the drums, dances, events and music.

Guests:

Taylor Susan (White Mountain Apache and Walker River Paiute) – reigning Miss Indian World

Lisa Meeches (Anishinaabe) – A host of the Miss Indian World pageant, television and film producer for the true crime documentary series “Taken”

Ruben Little Head (Northern Cheyenne) – announcer for the Gathering of Nations

Jason Whitehouse – announcer for Gathering of Nations

Break Music – Gon (Grand Entry Song) (song) Gathering of Nations (artist) Gathering of Nations: Spirit Rising (album)

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Dene Nation folk singer Leela Gilday was raised in Canada’s Northwest Territories and her love for the area comes through in her songs. We welcome Leela as our April Music Maker artist. She’ll share music from her much-anticipated upcoming album, “North Star Calling” which is about healing as well as cultural resurgence. Feel the power of her music that she says is a source for strengthening family and connecting generations.

Break 1 Music: Great Slave Shore (song) Leela Gilday (artist) Spirit World, Solid Wood (album)

Break 2 Music: Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear) (song) A Tribe Called Red (artist) Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear) (single)

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Understanding and acknowledging past trauma can help guide how to interact with each other. For Native Americans it can inform how the history of colonialism might influence a person’s reaction to certain words or behaviors. Experts are developing methods for approaching situations in schools, offices and businesses from a trauma-informed perspective to avoid conflict, de-escalate tension and promote healing. In this hour we’ll talk with professionals about what trauma-informed approaches look like.

Guests:

Jillene Joseph (A’aninin) – executive director of the Native Wellness Institute

David Fullerton – general manager of The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

Angie Blackwell (Grand Ronde) – director of early childhood education for The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

Break 1 Music: Old School Hop (song) Cree Confederation (artist) Pakosiyimitan (album)

Break 2 Music: Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear) (song) A Tribe Called Red (artist) Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear) (single )

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North Dakota just joined the handful of states guaranteeing Native students’ right to wear regalia during graduation ceremonies. It’s one of the highlights in the annual struggle to include eagle feathers and beaded mortar boards in commencement. Some schools adhere to strict dress codes and forbid students from adorning the traditional caps and gowns. The Native American Rights Fund sees it as an issue of free speech and religious expression. We’ll get a rundown of recent victories and setbacks toward recognizing the cultural significance of regalia at graduation.

Guests:

David Gover (Choctaw/Pawnee) – senior staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund

Quinton Roman Nose (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes) – executive director for Tribal Education Departments National Assembly

Dr. Matthew Makomenaw (Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians) – college pathways manager for the American Indian College Fund

Break 1 Music: Go My Son (ill Franklyn Remix) (single) Ill franklyn (artist)

Break 2 Music: Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear) (song) A Tribe Called Red (artist) Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear) (single )

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About a 300 U.S. cities and two states have banned single-use plastic bags. Seminole Gaming is phasing out plastic straws at their casinos, resorts and restaurants in Florida. The actions are an attempt to limit plastic waste that is posing an increasing threat to whales, turtles, seabirds and other animals. Some tribes are also worried plastics pollution affects their health and sustenance. Researchers with Ikaarvik in the Arctic are sampling ocean waters for micro plastics pollution and checking whether it’s affecting Indigenous residents. On Earth Day, we’ll take a look at how plastics pollution is affecting Native communities and what’s being done about it.

Guests:

Tina Ngata (Ngati poru woman) – Indigenous advocate

Helen Dangel (Sitka tribal member from the Kaagwaantaan clan) – natural resource specialist with the Sitka Tribe of Alaska

Eric Solomon – director of Arctic programs at Ocean Wise and director of Ikaarvik

Kimeona Kane (Kanaka Maoli) – director of community relations at 808 Cleanups

Break 1 Music: This Land (song) Keith Secola (artist) Native Americana – A Coup Stick (album)

Break 2 Music: Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear) (song) A Tribe Called Red (artist) Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear) (single )

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All the poems in Rex Lee Jim’s collection give the Navajo language center stage. The 30 poems in “Saad Lá Tah Hózhóón: A Collection of Diné Poetry” were written first in Navajo. Lee also translated them into English. The writing draws from his life as a Diné and the land his people call home. The former Navajo Nation vice president helps us celebrate National Poetry Month with a message about the importance of language and culture.

Break 1 Music: Kinship Honor (K’é Biyiin) (song) Radmilla Cody (artist) K’é Hasin (album)

Break 2 Music: Canoe Song (song) Chenoa (artist) Spirit of Salishan (album)