12/31/98: Year-In-Review (Listen
in RealAudio...)
We look back at the big news stories from Indian
Country in 1998. What were the issues that impacted
your community?
Guests include Paul
DeMain, publisher of News
From Indian Country.
12/23/98: War On Iraq (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The bombs were flying over Baghdad again! Why? Because
Iraq continued to challenge UN inspectors who were
looking for weapons of mass destruction or so we were
told. Out of the over 450 inspections Iraq only challenged
five. Did that warrant another bloody assault on the
people of Iraq? Or was it a ploy to distract us from
the impeachment proceedings?
Guests: Barbara Lubin
of the Middle
East Children's Alliance. (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
12/22/98: Acteal Massacre
Remembered (Listen
in RealAudio...)
One year ago today (12/22/97) 45 men, women, and
children were gunned down in the Mexican village
of Acteal. This
massacre was instigated by the Mexican government
against the Mayan people as part of an oppressive
campaign designed to break the spirit of the people.
How are the people of Acteal one year later? Guests:
Ted Lewis, director of Global Exchange Mexico Project.
(Listen
to other programs on international issues)
12/21/98: Killer Toys
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Beware of vinyl toys! Public interest groups have
warned Christmas shoppers that vinyl toys contain
toxic chemicals that have been putting children
at risk. So if we can't have our vinyl Teletubbies
what can we have? We went shopping for safe toys
with Jackie Warledo of the Seminole
Nation of Oklahoma.
12/17/98: United States:
Defender of Human Rights? (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The United States once again stopped short
of committing full support to the United
Nations draft Declaration
on the Rights of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
The general statement delivered in late 1998 by
the State Department contained language that left
questions regarding U.S. policy toward the collective
rights of Native people. Did our country live up
to its rhetoric? (Listen
to other programs on human rights.) (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
12/16/98: Open
Lines (Suggestions for Programming for 1999)
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The phone lines were open on Native America Calling
to soilicit recommendations for possible show topics
for 1999. Listen to what Indian Country wanted to
hear about for the upcoming year.
12/14/98: Treating Sex
Criminals (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Thousands of sex crimes have been committed every
day and some experts have said as many as 80 percent
of these crimes go unreported. Even when sex offenders
are caught and locked up once they're turned loose
many will repeat the crime. Is incarceration enough?
Guests: sexual offense experts Karen Vigil and
Dr. Anna Salter.
12/10/98: Public Hearing
on NAGPRA (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The National
Park Service held a public hearing in Santa
Fe regarding the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Native people seized the opportunity to bring attention
to the injustices that were taking place against
our burial grounds and our ancestors all over this
country. Guests: Marla Big Boy, attorney for
the Colville Tribe of Washington state. (Listen
to other programs on NAGPRA and repatriation issues)
12/9/98: Weaving Native
Values into the Business World (Listen
in RealAudio...)
As more and more Native people enter the professional
business world the question of cultural values has
become an issue. Native professionals have been
looking to incorporate elements of Native philosophy
into their business practices. How do Native values
enrich our business endeavors and enterprises? Guests:
Attorney Cheryl Fairbanks & Business owner Wynema
Morris.
12/8/98: Indian Fraud
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Believe it or not being an enrolled member of an
Indian tribe does offer some opportunities. Tribal
members have been eligible to get money for school,
job training or start-up business loans. But there
are those who have claimed to be Native and weren't
and have fraudulently acquired money. How can we
stop the fraud and abuse in Native Funding programs?
Guests: Dr. Jerry Bread.
12/3/98: DNA Testing
and Crime Solving (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The use of DNA testing in forensic crime solving
had been on the rise in 1998. A lot of criminal
investigators felt DNA evidence had been a sure-fire
way to identify alleged suspects. But how exactly
does this study of genetic material catch a criminal?
And how do we know if DNA forensics is an accurate
science? Guests: Rod Kennedy of the BIA
Law Enforcement agency.
12/2/98: European Indian
Clubs (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Did you know that Native American culture has been
thriving in Europe? Well it is. You have been able
to find everything from traditional beadwork to
full blown powwows on the European circuit. But
not too many Native Americans have been involved
in this cultural phenomenon. Can the native culture
be shared this way without being offensive? Guests:
Dennis Zotigh of the Kiowa Nation and expert on
the issue.
12/1/98: Current Events
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
As Native American heritage month drew to a close
Native America Calling looked at this 1998's important
issues and asked you to call in your concerns as
well. Harlan McKosato hosted this special Current
Edition of NAC.
11/25/98: Book-of-the-Month:
"The Choctaw Revolution" (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Thirty-five years ago, the Mississippi Choctaws
were aptly described as one of the poorest pockets
of poverty in the country. In our book
of the month we hear how through courageous
leadership the tribe went through dramatic changes,
and was one of the five largest employers in the
entire state by 1998. What are the lessons learned
and how can they benefit the rest of our Native
communities? Guests: Choctaw Chief Phillip Martin.
Check
out NAPT's Census page for other related Native
America Calling programs...
(Listen to other literature programs from 1998)
11/24/98: Corporate Welfare
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Reports detailing abuses of the federal welfare
system and its ineffectiveness created complaints
and heated debate over its reform. With Corporate
America riding a wave of success in 1998 what was
their responsibility to the War on Poverty in the
U.S?
11/23/98: U.N. Human
Rights Declaration (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Years of deliberation, reporting, and testimony
reports from Geneva indicated that there was something
about to break in 1998 concerning an international
declaration of basic human rights of indigenous
people. Was America going to walk the talk and finally
sign an agreement? Guests: Gare Smith, Principal
Deputy Assistant of Secretary of State and Leslie
Gerson, Deputy of Secretary of State. (Listen
to other programs on human rights.) (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
11/19/98: Webcasting
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
All of the special services offered by the World
Wide Web began to include radio and television in
the late 1990's. That's right...did you know you
can pick up broadcasts from all over the world right
through your home or office computer? It's a relatively
simple process, the download is virtually free and
the payoff is a world of radio and television through
the Internet. Are you ready for real
time audio and video?
11/18/98: Great American
Smoke Out (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Warning:
Smoking will eventually kill you! There is no
doubt left...we all know this to be true. And although
this country has sued the tobacco industry and won,
banned nearly all forms of cigarette advertising,
and developed dozens of methods to quit smoking...it
still remains as one of our leading killers. Can
Native America kick the habit?
11/17/98: Solar Power
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Our sun has provided an untapped energy source with
unlimited potential. However it has been severely
underused by industrial nations. However, more and
more Native communities have discovered that solar
energy is inexpensive and efficient. We discussed
the cutting edge of solar power and technology.
Guests: Debbie Tewa of the Hopi
Nation.
11/12/98: The Last Frontiers
of the World (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Because of development and modernization...there
are very few places left in the world in their natural,
pristine states. But there are still some left.
We explored different parts of the world that have
withstood progress and remain as some of the last
untouched land on the planet. Former NAC director
Joseph Leon traveled to Alaska to bring us a special
report from Arctic Village...along with Gwich'in
Chief Clarence Alexander.
11/10/98: Census 2000
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Have Native people been too paranoid of revealing
personal information to the government? Historically,
we have been undercounted as a whole, but could
this be due to our own efforts not to be found?
Are Native Americans suffering from Census-phobia?
Is it time come out of the shadows and stand up
and be counted? Guests: Nedra Darling, director
of the U.S.
Census Bureau's Native American Programs. Check
out NAPT's Census page for other related Native
America Calling programs...
11/9/98: Social Security
in Native America (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Saving and strengthening the Social
Security Fund caught the attention of many baby
boomers. Many were worried that all the money paid
into the Social Security System would not be there
when Baby Boomers retired. But how did and do Social
Security benefits help Native Americans? Especially
when you consider the question of dual nationalities
and citizenships? Guests: Jean Daniels of the
National Committee on Aging. Listen to LIVE coverage
on Social Security Issues in Native America. Listen
to coverage of Social Security Issues in Native
America. (Listen
to other programs on economics.)
11/5/98: Sports in Native
America (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had been coaching high school
basketball on the White Mountain Apache reservation...Notah
Begay of the Navajo Nation became the first Native
to earn his card on the PGA Pro-Golf Tour...and
Jim Thorpe's camp was still lobbying for him to
be honored as "The Greatest Athlete of the 20th
Century." Harlan McKosato and Native America Calling
talked sports.
11/4/98: Current Events
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
NAC talked about Election '98 and Proposition 5
as well as other issues from around Indian Country.
Listen
to other programs on gaming. (Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998
and 1999.)
11/3/98: Child Predators
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Most states have laws that prevent convicted child
molesters from establishing residency within their
boundaries unless they notify the neighborhood,
town or city of their criminal past. Not New Mexico!
Has this state become a playground for pedophiles?
What can be done to keep children safe from these
predators?
11/2/98: Middle East
& Red America (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The battles in the Middle East in 1998 were reminiscent
of the termination era between the U.S. and tribes.
The fight was over homelands, but what was different
in the Middle East compared to the Indian Wars was
the U.S. was playing both sides of the battlefield
as peacemaker. Can we compare the Middle East with
Red America?
10/29/98: Global Warming
in Native Homelands (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Increasing evidence shows that global
warming has caused hurricanes, floods, fires
and other natural disasters. National policies were
being developed for the twenty-first century...and
Native people were providing valuable input. Could
indigenous environmental philosophies help save
the planet? Guests: Oren Lyons, Grand Chief of
the Onondaga Nation.
10/28/98: Book of the
Month: "Authentic Alaska" (Listen
in RealAudio...)
On a special Book of the Month Edition of Native
America Calling we featured "Authentic
Alaska: Voices of Its Native Writers"…
a collection of gritty, forthright narratives about
late twentieth century life in remote Alaska. Guests:
authors Susan B. Andrews and John Creed. (Listen
to other literature programs from 1998)
10/27/98: Get Out the
Vote (Listen
in RealAudio...)
When politicians make the ultimate decision to vote
on legislation, the bottom line is their voting
constituency. Too many times, that group has not
included Native people. Can we actually have more
of a voice through our participation at the polls.
Guests: Sharon Clahchischillage, director of
Navajo Nation
lobbying office in Washington D.C. (Listen
to other programs on politics and government)
10/26/98: Bio-Piracy
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
DNA
patenting without informed consent and the outright
theft of genetic material once loomed like a dark
shadow over many indigenous communities around the
world. But breakthroughs in science have offerred
hope for the future. How will Native people use
genetic technology for our benefit? Guests: Debra
Harry of the Paiute Nation and Marla Big Boy of
the Colville
Tribe.
10/22/98: Success Stories
from Across Indian Country (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Live from the 1998 National
Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Conference
in Myrtle Beach, SC. Native America Calling talked
with people about the good things that are going
on from across Indian Country. Guests: Kevin
Gover, Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs
and head of the BIA.
[See the 1998
NCAI page]
10/21/98: Banking on Native
America (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The Community
Reinvestment Act said that banks need to make
loans to all credit-worthy applicants in a bank's
service area. Modern technology, as well as new laws
and government policies, have allowed banks to merge
with one another and the result has been large banks
with service areas that span the US. What does this
banking system mean for Native America? Guests:
Cheri Salway-Black of First Nations Development. (Listen
to other programs on economics.) [See the
1998
NCAI page]
10/19/98: NAFTA's Impact
on Native America (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The jury was still out on the North American Free
Trade Agreement and how it had been affecting Native
communities. Some tribal leaders had been outspoken
in their support for the agreement, while others claimed
that it was taking food off the tables of Native families.
Was NAFTA good for Indian Country? Guests: Deni
Lenard of the Warm
Springs Confederated Tribes of Oregon. (Listen
to other programs on economics.)
[See the 1998
NCAI page]
10/15/98: Alaska Federation
of Natives Convention (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native people from throughout Alaska and the lower
48 gathered in Anchorage for the 1998 AFN
meeting. Issues for the convention included subsistence...tribal
self-determination ...the upcoming state elections...and
the theme for the convention was "In Service
to Our Country" in honor of veterans. Sharon
McConnell and Harlan McKosato brought you the coverage.
10/13/98: Answers from
the Ice Edge (Listen
in RealAudio...)
A report detailed the consequences of climate change
in the Bering
and Chuckchi Seas. It talked about how global warming
in the Arctic has affected animals that the Alaska
Natives in area depend on for subsistence. Join Native
America Calling as it discussed how global warming
has affected the people of the Arctic and what has
been done to stop it. Will global warming in the end
be a cultural threat to the people of the Bering and
Chuckchi Seas? And was this just a preface of what
lies ahead for the rest of the world if something
isn't done?
10/12/98: The Alaska Native
Claims Act (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The Alaska Native Claims Act was passed almost 27
years ago. How has it impacting the lives of Native
Americans today? Should non-Natives be able to own
stock in Native Alaska Corporations? What about lands
for Alaska Natives that left before the act? Sharon
McConnell and Harlan McKosato took a closer look at
the Alaska Native Claims Act and Autonomy in Alaska.
(Listen
to other programs on land issues)
10/8/98: The X-Files!
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The federal government had carried out thousands of
secret bizarre biological and medical experiments
on the citizens of this country. Unknowing people
were exposed to everything from pesticides and nuclear
radiation to psychological experiments. Are we still
the human guinea pigs for bizarre science?
10/7/98: Native Supreme
Court Justices? (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Have you ever wondered if things would be different
if Indians served on the Supreme
Court? Well that's the exact question that Native
Justices were going to ask at the 2nd Annual Governance
Conference at the University
of Kansas School of Law. We heard the legal arguments
on why or why not Native Justices should be on the
Supreme Court.
10/6/98: Conflict
Resolution (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Probably the single most contributing factor in creating
conflict between people or nations has been the failure
to communicate. Both personal guidance counselors
and organizational
mediators had been exploring deeper into the human
psyche to resolve conflicts on the individual and
community level. What keeps us from resolving our
conflicts with others? Guests: Shelly Vindiola
of Indian Dispute Resolution Center.
10/5/98: Current Events
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The US
Supreme Court began its fall session on October
5, 1998, and minority groups staged a protest because
of the court's long history of not hiring minorities.
The Alaska
Federation of Natives Convention is coming up
towards the end of 1998 and so is Columbus day. We
discussed these and other topics that you called in
with on the current events edition of Native America
Calling.
10/1/98: Sterilization
of Native American Women (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The Government Accounting Office found widespread
sterilization abuse of Native American women in areas
served by the IHS. In 1975 alone, 25,000 Native American
women were permanently sterilized. This practice is
also running rampant in third world countries. How
does sterilization threaten the genetic future of
the world's Indigenous populations? Guests: Charon
Asetoyer of the Native
American Woman's Health Education Resource Center.
(Listen
to other programs on human rights.)
9/29/98: Sex, Drugs and
Consensual Crimes (Listen
in RealAudio...)
If people choose to use illicit drugs...or lead a
bizarre sex life...or decide that they want to end
their medical suffering by assisted suicide...then
who’s to stop them? Who’s to judge? Millions of tax
payer dollars have been spent in the prosecution of
offenders of victimless crimes. Should America continue
to prosecute victimless and consensual crimes? Guests:
Peter McWilliams...author of “Ain’t
Nobody’s Business If I Do: The Absurdity of Consensual
Crimes in Our Free Country!” (Listen
to other programs on legal issues)
9/28/98: Polygamy (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The issue of polygamy...or having multiple wives,
was in the news in September 1998 after the father
of a sixteen year old girl in Utah was arrested for
forcing his daughter to marry his brother who already
had fourteen wives. But it isn’t just 30,000 Mormons
who practice polygamy ...Native cultures throughout
the world have and have had plural marriages as part
of their culture. What are the unspoken consequences
of polygamy? Guest: Laura Chapman, founding board
member of Tapestry of Polygamy.
9/24/98: Women in History
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Women have played key roles in the political history
of America from the suffragette movement of the turn
of the century to the civil and human rights movement
of the late 1990's. Native America Calling honored
the women warriors of the native and non-native societies
and looked at their contributions and sacrifices for
our nations. Guests: LaDonna Harris of Americans
for Indian Opportunity.
9/22/98: Reviving our Ceremonies
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Many have believed that reviving our sacred ceremonies
ahs been the most important endeavor in our effort
to revitalize and maintain our culture. Communities
throughout Native America have brought to light ceremonies
that were hidden for over century. How has reviving
our ceremonies promoted individual, family, and communal
well being? Guests: Julian Lange of the Center
for Indian Community Development in Humboldt
State University California. (Listen
to other programs on religious issues)
9/21/98: Ramifications
of Impeachment (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Impeachment
seemed to be on the minds of many in the nations capitol
in 1998. The on-going saga of President Bill Clinton’s
promiscuous affairs had people asking the president
to step down. But how would Clinton’s Impeachment
have affected the Native American legislative agenda
and federal programs? Guest: Greg Stebben, author
of “Presidents; Scandal and What are Impeachable Offenses”.
9/17/98: Mixed Marriages
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
According to a 1998 US census study there were more
and more mixed blood marriages in Native America.
Of all the ethnic minority groups in this country...native
Americans had been the least likely to marry their
own. Have mixed
marriages created an in-home culture clash? Or
have mixed marriages with non-native cultures threaten
to thin our already thinning bloodlines? Check
out NAPT's Census page for other related Native America
Calling programs. (Listen
to other programs on race.)
9/16/98: Welfare Workfarms
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The idea of welfare-to-work has caught like wildfire
across the country. The only problem has been that
many welfare recipients found themselves doing the
dirty work for cities and states and then later laid
off...finding themselves back at square one. Have
we seen the creation of welfare workfarms for cash-strapped
cities and municipalities? And how has this affected
native Americans on welfare
assistance? (Listen
to other programs on economics.)
9/15/98: Current Events
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
On this Current Events edition we looked at legislation
affecting Native America and updated you on the Makah
whale hunt and the Petroglyph
National Monument in New Mexico. We also opened
up the phone lines to hear about what’s current in
your community. (Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998 and
1999.)
9/10/98: Being White in
America (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Does skin color really matter in this country? Or
do you think that racial attitude has finally fallen
to the way side? On Native America Calling we looked
at what it means to be white in today’s America and
if being white still meant you’re more likely to get
ahead of the game. Guests: Robert
Jensen, professor of Journalism
at the University of Texas.
9/9/98: TV Nation (Listen
in RealAudio...)
According to many psychologists one of the most dangerous
influences in a child’s life can be found right in
your own living room. The TV set! Television has been
producing more and more violent and sexually explicit
programs daily. But how does this kind programming
influence the social behaviors of people? Are there
better ways to use the power of television to improve
the quality of life in this country? Guests: Mark
Labalme...executive director for TV
Free America.
9/8/98: The US - The Terrorized
or the Terrorist? (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The escalation of terrorist activity against the United
States in the 1990's has gotten more dangerous and
severe. The 1998 US embassy attacks in the east and
other terrorist threats from around the world got
many wondering why the US has been targeted. But some
people say that the United States actually has been
terrorizing the world...and attacks have been the
response of those countries who’ve had enough of US
world policy. Is the United States Government victim
of terrorism...or is it the terrorist? Guests:
Jeff Blankfort...former editor of the Middle East
Labor Bulletin. (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
9/3/98: Industrial Hemp
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota made plans
to cultivate industrial
hemp, despite a warning from the Drug Enforcement
Association that it is illegal. Does federal law supersede
tribal law in Indian Country? Guests: Milo Yellow
Hair, vice-president of the Oglala
Sioux. (Listen
to other programs on legal issues)
9/2/98: Return of Our Ancestors
(Part 2) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Because of the controversy over possible violations
of NAGPRA
by employees of the University of Nebraska, the school
convened a meeting with tribal leaders from the four
tribes located within the state. They promised to
return the bones, but never did... Listen to what
people had to say in
1998 and what they had to say in
1999. (Listen
to other programs on NAGPRA and repatriation issues)
9/1/98: Return of Our Ancestors
(Part 1) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The state of Nebraska led the way in 1989 when the
state legislature passed a bill protecting Indian
skeletal remains. The Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
was passed by the US Congress a year later. In the
summer of 1998, the University of Nebraska found itself
in hot water because of possible violations of both
state and federal law. Guests: Priscilla Grew of
the University of Nebraska. (Listen
to other programs on NAGPRA and repatriation issues)
8/27/98: School Textbooks
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
School books are notorious for leaving out the Native
American perspective. When it is included, it seems
like an afterthought. When will we get this policy
changed? Guests: Robin Butterfield of the National
Indian Education Association (NIEA) (Listen
to other programs on education.) (Listen
to other literature programs from 1998)
8/26/98: Book-of-the-Month:
"Horse, Follow Closely" (Listen
in RealAudio...)
There is a relationship between horse and rider that
is based on trust and harmony. We interviewed author
GaWaNi Pony Boy about his book of the Tsa-La-Gi
Nation about the traditional training methods of his
ancestors... Americas first great horsemen. (Listen
to other literature programs from 1998)
8/25/98: US Trust Territories
(Part 2) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The United States have maintained trust territories
throughout the Pacific. We looked at the political
geography and sovereignty movements of Micronesia.
These Island reservations have been crucial for the
United States to maintain military and financial superiority
throughout the region. What can Native America and
the Micronesian states learn from each other's experience?
Guests: Deni Leonard...a member of the Confederated
Tribes of Warm Springs who has been working on
economic development projects throughout the South
Pacific. (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
8/24/98: US Trust Territories
(Part 1) - Puerto Rico (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Puerto
Rico has been on the verge of becoming the 51st
state of the United States. But this US trust holding
has been divided over the prospect. Many Puerto Ricans
have favored becoming an autonomous nation...while
others have said statehood would lead to prosperity.
Should Puerto Rico become a state? Independent? Indian
reservation? Or
what? Guests: Manuel Rodriguez-Orellana of
the Puerto Rican Independence Party. (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
8/19/98: Medicine People
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Some of the more predominent and yet little known
segments of Native American society have been the
circles of medicine men and healers holistic. They
not only tend to our spiritual and physical wellbeing,
but they also have served as a liason between us and
the spirits of the natural world. Pharmeceutical
companies like Upjohn have for years tried to
unravel the mysteries of Native medicinal knowledge.
How do we transform the world of medicine to include
the ancient knowledge of tribal peoples? (Listen
to other programs on religious issues
8/18/98: Current Events:
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
You tuned in and heard what Spokane author Sherman
Alexie had to say about "Smoke Signals", Sacajawea
on the U.S. dollar, and other Indian Issues of the
time. Guests: Sherman Alexie. Find out more about
him and his works at www.fallsapart.com
8/17/98: Millennium Bug
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
When the clock struck midnight on December 31, 1999,
there was more chaos than normal. Why? Because of
the
bug that automatically reset computers from coast-to-coast.
How was Native America going to prepare for this impending
problem? Guests: Val Hornstein, a corporate lawyer
specializing in computer affairs.
8/13/98: Reducing Crime
and Drugs in Indian Housing (Listen
in RealAudio...)
When we examined gang activity, drug trafficking and
violent crimes in Native communities…most of the activity
has been taking place in and around housing projects.
What was going to be done to reclaim our neighborhoods?
8/12/98: Indian Schools
Online (Listen
in RealAudio...)
As part of the Clinton Administration's nationwide
initiative, tribal schools and colleges were catching
up with the rest of the world wide webbers. Can our
children compete in this age of technology? (Listen
to other programs on education.)
8/11/98: Native Clan Systems
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Nearly all Native people belong to a clan within their
tribal structure. Our clan membership plays a significant
role…not only within our tribe…but to our individual
identity as well. But how much relevance do our clans
play in these contemporary times?
8/10/98: Water 2000 in
Indian Country (Listen
in RealAudio...)
An ongoing plan had been bringing safe and abundant
drinking water to many rural American homes that lacked
it. Vice President Gore announced that $16 million
will be allocated to several Native communities…but
what about the rest of Native America? Guests:
John Romano, deputy administrator of the Rural
Utilities Service.
8/7/98: Indian Economic
Self-Determination Part II (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native America Calling discussed the impact of the
BRAVO Initiative and President
Clinton's executive order on Indian Education.
Guests: John
Echohawk (Pawnee)
of the Native
American Rights Fund (NARF) and Gregory
Pyle, Chief of the Choctaw
Nation of Oklahoma.
8/6/98: Indian Economic
Self-Determination (a two-hour program) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
First hour: President Clinton addressed tribal
leaders during a conference on building economic autonomy
in Native communities. NAC brought you live coverage
of the President's speech from D.C. This two-day meeting
focused on specific strategies to build tribal economies
and open up new business opportunities in Indian Country.
How do we get the cash flowing towards Native America...instead
of away from Native America? Guests: Lynn Cutler,
Deputy Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental
Affairs.
Second hour: Native America Calling carried
President
Bill Clinton's speech LIVE in its entirety,
following it up with commentary and phone calls from
listeners.
8/5/98: Indian Gaming...Good
or Evil?(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Tribes have been attacked on all fronts over their
perceived riches from gaming revenues. Governors ...
congressmen ... attorney generals .. .mayors ... everybody
has been getting in on the act. Is there any other
way to make legitimate money on our reservations?
Guests: Rick Hill, chair of the National
Indian Gaming Association. (Listen
to other programs on gaming.)
(Listen to other programs on economics.)
7/30/98: Genetics
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Genetic
engineering...DNA patenting...and transgenic
experiments. Have these technologies improved our
quality of life? Or have they threatened to alter
the planet's entire gene pool? We discussed genetics...friend
or biological threat? Guests: Andrew Kimbrell
of the Center
for Technology Assessment.
7/28/98: Improving the
Commodities (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Improving and controlling our food source is one
of the most important steps we can take to improve
our well-being as well as strengthen our sovereignty.
The USDA
has worked to create a food partnership with native
growers to supply fresh fruits, veggies and meats.
Have we been able to create a healthy commodity
program and nurture native agriculture as well?
Guests: Charles Red Gates, Commodity Director for
the Standing
Rock Tribe.
7/27/98: Kids Show!
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Have you forgotten what it's like to see the world
through a childs eyes? We visited with young children
to get a refreshing outlook on life. Guests:
entertainer Joanne
Shenandoah of the Seneca
Nation and children from around Native America.
7/23/98: Criminal Investigation
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
When violent crimes had been committed on reservation
lands, police officers and investigators had been
the first to arrive on the scene. What clues have
they looked for to help solve the crime? And how
have their crime-scene experiences affected their
daily and family lives? Guests: Captain Dorothy
Fulton of the Navajo
Nation.
7/22/98: Nuclear War
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The threat
of nuclear war is not out of sight and certainly
not out of mind. How close are we to an all-out
nuclear war in 1998? Who are the biggest threats
to making it a reality? And how close is Indian
Country to the trigger? These questions and others
were explored as we discussed Nine Minutes to Midnight.
Guests: Mike Moore of the Bulletin
for Atomic Scientists.
7/21/98: Selling the
Black Hills (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The federal governments offer to outright buy the
Black Hills from the Oglala/Lakotas
was still on the table in the summer of 1998. There
were some bands wanting to accept hundreds of millions
of dollars for the land while other Oglala
Lakota bands were prepared to die to keep it.
Were the Oglalas/Lakotas to keep the Black Hills?
Or sell them? (Listen
to other programs on land issues)
7/15/98: Current Events
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
We brought you the latest news from Indian Country
and provided updates on previous news stories broadcast
on NAC. From the ups and downs of Capitol Hill to
the shores of Alaska...we brought you the good,
the bad and the ugly. (Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998
and 1999.)
7/14/98: U.S. Foreign Investment
Policies (Listen
in RealAudio...)
In 1998 the White House approved the transfer of $2
billion from the
Federal Reserve to the Bank
of Japan. We examined U.S. involvement in the
Japanese economy and our willingness to bail them
out of recession. Why wasn't our government willing
to do the same for Native America? Guests: currency
expert Andrew Gause.
7/13/98: Traditional Weddings
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Marriage is a sacred union in virtually every corner
of the world. There has been perhaps as many different
wedding ceremonies as there are cultures. In many
Native communities, traditional
weddings are still being practiced. Are marriages
more successful if they are performed according to
the old ways?
7/8/98: Chiapas War Zone
(Part 2) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Live from Chiapas with former Native America Calling
Director Joe Leon. Guests: Marguerita Hernandez,
San Cristobal, Chiapas, Rural Development Corporation.
(Listen
to other programs on international issues)
7/7/98: Chiapas War Zone
(Part 1) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The
atmosphere in Southern Mexico had been growing
more tense by the day in July of 1998. A Native American
delegation was in the region observing the situation
and making connections with the strife-filled indigenous
community. (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
7/6/98: Buying Political
Power (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Tribes have been learning to play the game on Capitol
Hill, the state level...even the local level. Can
tribal nations supply enough cash and deliver enough
votes to gain political favors?
7/2/98: Armageddon and
Prophecy (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Hopi elders participated in a national talk show in
1998 sharing their prophecy that the end of the world
was coming. Chaotic weather patterns, natural disasters,
social strife and civil wars had all plagued humanity.
Were we to witness the end of the world as we knew
it? Guests: Lee Kuwanwisiuma, Director of Cultural
Preservation for Hopi.
7/1/98: Arctic Oil - The
People vs. the People (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Communities of the Arctic have been split over off-shore
oil development. Native Corporations have intended
to open their waters for oil exploration. But some
tribal members feel offshore oil development will
destroy there subsistence lifestyle and their relationship
with the sea. Do the monetary benefits of oil development
supersede the cultural and subsistence needs of a
people? Guests: Ronald Brower, president of the
Inuit
Circumpolar Conference.
6/30/98: Falling off
the Wagon (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Like it or not...there will be people who have quit
drinking and will fall off the wagon to pick up
their partying ways. But what happens to these fallen
angels if they return to their old ways? Native
substance abuse counselors say alcohol can destroy
a persons spirit. Does this mean that the occasional
drinker and the ones who’ve returned to drink are
doomed spiritually? Guests: Anna Lattimer executive
director National Association of Native American
Children of Alcoholics.
6/25/98: The Makah Whale
Hunt (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The Makah
of the Pacific Northwest were preparing for
the summer whale hunt and intended to take five
Gray whales. Environmental groups and some tribal
members have said the seasonal hunts could endanger
the whales, while others say their culture is at
stake if they don’t go. How can the subsistence
and cultural needs of the Makah be balanced with
the survival of the whale? Guests: Makah Tribal
Chairman Keith Johnson.
6/24/98: Book of the Month:
"Masked Dancers" (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Cherokee mystery writer Jean Hager offered us a profound
murder mystery “Masked
Dancers”. It spins a web of intrigue and suspense
within the environment of Native culture and spirituality.
We met author Jean Hager and the “Mask Dancers”. (Listen
to other literature programs from 1998)
6/23/98: Transporting Nuclear
Waste (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Nuclear waste has quietly been shipped all over the
US and Indian Country. The WIPP
dump site in New Mexico and Yucca Mountain in Nevada
might have brought shipments through your town. Are
our communities ready to deal with the risks of accidents
and spills? Guests: Virginia Sanchez. (Listen
to other programs on environment.)
6/22/98: Elvis Lives
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Elvis
lives! There has been speculation that the King of
Rock and Roll is alive and well and is walking among
us. In fact some Elvis investigators say the death
of Elvis Presely was a government plot. And did you
know that Elvis has native roots? Guests: Elvis
Investigators William Beanie & Nick Moran.
6/18/98: Covering Native
America from A to Z (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native journalists from throughout tribal America
were to convene in Arizona to discuss freedom of the
press in Indian Country, becoming better tribal spin
doctors, cultural protocol and how to get the mainstream
media to cover Native issues. Are you satisfied with
the news coverage from Indian Country? You joined
us live from the Native
American Journalists Associations conference in
Tempe. (Listen
to other programs on media issues)
6/16/98: Savage Love (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The myth of the noble and exotic savage is not
dead yet. Have you ever seen or read one of those
Indian romance novels about the muscular and brave
Indian warrior or the curvy young Indian maiden in
the Pocahontas dress? Why have they been so popular?
Guests: Karen
Kay, author of Native American romance novels.
6/15/98: World Peace and
Prayer Day (Listen
in RealAudio...)
According to Lakota Star Knowledge...the summer solstice
(June 21st) is a sacred day. Spiritual energies are
high and it’s a day set aside for giving thanks to
our creator and tuning in to the powers of creation.
How strong is the power of prayer? Guests: Arvol
Looking Horse... Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo
Calf pipe.
6/11/98: Re-marriage
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Blending two families into one will become more and
more of a reality in America in the twenty-first century.
Our society’s high divorce
rate has another side to it...people getting married
for a second time. Have you or are you experiencing
the Brady Bunch syndrome?
6/9/98: Intuition (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Some of the worlds most sophisticated technologies
were inspired by dreams and intuition. And what are
these tools of insight we all possess? Is our intuition
our true connection with the spirit world and the
world of dreams...and is our intuition a tool to bring
those ethereal inspirations to this reality?
6/8/98: Fire Warriors
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The summer is that dry time of the year when a cigarette
thrown out the car window, a lightning strike or an
arson can set off massive fires... fires that rage
on for days, burn millions of acres...and threaten
lives. Who gets the call to battle these blazes?
Guests: Wally Begay (Navajo).
6/4/98: The Next America
(People of Color as the New Majority) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Demographers predict that by the middle of the twenty-first
century people of color will be the new majority.
Some groups have already made new connections in hopes
of building a brighter future in the new millennium.
How can communities of color become a force? Guests:
Phyllis Hairston and Abel Lopez of The Association
of American Cultures. (Listen
to other programs on race.)
6/3/98: Indian Education
on the Chopping Block (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Congressional bills had been making their way through
committee which, if they were to be passed, would
basically eliminate critical education programs in
Native communities…programs like bilingual education.
When will Indian monies be moved from the discretionary
to the mandatory category within the federal system?
We heard from educators throughout Native America.
6/2/98: Sovereignty in
the South Pacific (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The war on the high seas was continuing...Native
Hawaiians were fighting for their land, culture
and economic independence. The battle centered around
1.6 million acres of ceded lands set aside by the
government for the betterment of Native Hawaiian conditions.
But Native groups said their interests and rights
have been overlooked for too long...sound familiar?
Guests: Mililani Trask of the Ka Lahui Hawaii.
(Listen
to other programs on international issues)
6/1/98: Drugs, Sex and
the American Male (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The pill Viagra,
described and celebrated as a wonder drug, was put
on the market in 1998 to help boost your sex drive.
Men had been excited and they rushed to get this new
product. But the pill does have side effects and six
users have died...yet sales have not slowed down.
Is the pleasure worth the pain? Guests: Andy McCormick
of Pfizer,
Inc...makers of Viagra.
5/26/98: Uranium Miners
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The Navajo uranium miners had lost patience with
the federal government. It had been years since the
US promised compensation for Navajo miners who were
knowingly exposed to uranium--both in the mines and
the mills. Did the federal government renege on its
promise to care for these miners and their families?
Guests: Congressman Bill Redman (NM), lawyer Cooper
Brown, and a former miner Phil Harrison.
5/21/98: Global Warming
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Is global
warming really a threat? According to a industrial
lobbying group the answer is "no"! The industry
had been gearing up for a massive media campaign denouncing
science which said global warming has been threatening
the health of the planet. Do you think global warming
is a reality or the result of paranoid science?
5/19/98: Bad Credit Blues
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Would you believe that four out of five Americans
are two paychecks away from bankruptcy? Well, according
to some estimates, numbers show that a lot of us are
just one check away from poverty. Are you singing
the blues while bill collectors knock on your door?
Do you have bad
credit?
5/18/98: Generation X
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The preliminary results of a 1998 poll conducted by
the Solidarity Foundation, a native research group,
indicated that the coming generation was to be more
inclined and better equipped than ever to assume leadership
positions in their communities. Do you agree? Guests:
Michelle Henderson, Ft.
Belknap Assiniboine and executive director of
American Indian Business Leaders.
5/14/98: Gun Control (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Up to this point in 1998, America lost 11 students
and three teachers to the hands of gun-toting adolescents.
These shocking crimes led to an intense control movement.
But what about Native America? There are more guns
in Native American households but fewer gun-related
crimes and accidents. Is there a need for gun reform
laws in Indian Country? Guests: BIA justice officials
and a member of the National
Rifle Association. (Listen
to other programs on legal issues)
5/13/98: Bureau of Indian
Affairs (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Interior
Kevin Gover, a member of the Pawnee
Tribe of Oklahoma, joined us to present a State
of the Union address ... radio style. During the program
the new Chief of the BIA
discussed issues ranging from the economics of Indian
Country to the trust account lawsuit filed against
the Bureau. Guests: Kevin
Gover, Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs and
head of the BIA.
5/12/98: Pressing the Issues
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native America has been catching up with the rest
of the country in learning the Power of the Press.
Our issues are still foreign to most Americans but
our voice is getting out through the combined efforts
of Native journalists. How do we educate America about
its first inhabitants? Guests: Tim Giago, Former
Editor and Publisher of Indian
Country Today.
5/7/98: Evolution vs. Creation
in Schools (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The separation of church and state in this country
has led to some curious policy-making decisions about
what should be taught in our school systems...and
what should be taught at home. Which side of the debate
are you on? (Listen
to other programs on religious issues)
5/6/98: Onate Revisited
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The 400-year anniversary of Spanish Conquistador Don
Juan de Onate's arrival in what is now Northern
New Mexico sparked hot debate throughout the Southwest.
Whose history have states been celebrating and what
about the Native American perspective? Guests:
Pueblo leader and spokesperson Ron Shutiva.
5/5/98: California Casinos
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
In the battle with Governor Pete Wilson over gaming
compacts, California tribes made history. Armed with
more than a million signatures in a history-making
response from California voters, Indian tribes turned
in petitions that placed the issue of protecting Indian
gaming on tribal lands on the November 1998 Ballot.
Listen
to other programs on gaming.
5/4/98: Dreams: What Do
They Mean? (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Despite our desires and cravings...the true mystic
power of dreams is only unlocked to a certain few...yet
each of us have the ability to interpret our dreams
and include them into our daily lives. What are dreams
and what do they actually mean? Guests: dream interpreter
Caren Trujillo of the Yaqui Tribe.
4/30/98: Space...The Final
Frontier (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native America was to soon have its very first astronaut
orbiting the Earth. Chickasaw
native Jon Herrington was scheduled to be aboard one
of the shuttle missions in 1998. We talked about natives
on the moon and traveling through space. Will we have
Indian reservations in space?
4/29/98: Book of The Month:
"Bird Girl" (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Athabaskan author Velma Wallis joined us to talk about
growing up traditionally in Fort Yukon, Alaska. She
explained how legends and stories passed down to her
from her mother have become best sellers. We discussed
her two latest books, “Bird
