12/30/99: The New Millennium/Year
in Review (Listen
in RealAudio…)
As we reflect upon the past century and the millennium,
how do we as Native Americans evaluate our progress
as indigenous peoples? What events have occurred
that have influenced Native America. On this special
Millennium Edition the Native America Calling staff
and Indian Country shared with you their list of
important stories of 1999 as well as what to expect
in the year 2000.
(Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998
and 1999.)
12/29/99: Book of the
Month: "Invasion of Indian Country"
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Following the Industrial Revolution of the United
States during the late 1800s, an increasingly urban
America sought fuels to run its modern factories,
railroads, automobiles and airplanes. In his book
"Invasion
of Indian Country", Shawnee/Sac & Fox
author Donald Fixico brings to light the increasing
pressure that Native societies faced from federal
policies and American capitalists seeking to control
and grow wealthy from Indian Country's natural resources.
(Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
12/23/99: Tales of Wonder
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Native
American Winter Stories is the theme and award-winning
storyteller Gregg
Howard of the Cherokee/Powhatan tribes is
in the studio. We invited you to get cozy by the
fire and listen as we brought you Tales of Wonder.
(Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
12/22/99: South Dakota
Civil Rights (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The South Dakota advisory committee of the
U.S. Civil Rights
Commission held an all-day fact-finding forum
in Rapid City. They were seeking to find any disparities
and discrimination in the state's justice system
against Native Americans. What they found was abhorrent.
Will this change the way Native people are treated
by state law enforcement and justice system officials?
Guests: Elsie Meeks and Milo Yellowhair of the
Oglala
Lakota Nation. (Listen
to other programs on civil rights.)
12/21/99: Ski Native
America! (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Who is the fastest Indian on skis? Have you heard
of Ross Anderson? He is from the Ute Nation and
a professional speed skier. He is ranked 13th in
the world, reaching speeds up to 135 mph! And, where
are the best Native-owned ski resorts? Have you
ever tried Mescalero or the White Mountains? And
finally, where was skiing invented? Some say right
here on Turtle Island by Native people.
12/20/99: Danger Toys
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
'Tis the season for gift-shopping and many of us
have jumped headfirst into the frenzy of buying
the latest toys for the kids on our Christmas lists.
But buyers beware! There are some products that
consumer groups warn are potential health hazards.
Could your stockings be filled with accidents waiting
to happen? Guests: Yolanda Fultz-Morris of the
U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission.
12/16/99: Indigenous
People of Cuba (Listen
in RealAudio ...)
On this special cultural edition of Native America
Calling we took you to Cuba where a delegation of
Native Americans is visiting with our neighbors
to the south. It's our opportunity to breach the
political divide between the US government and Cuba
and get a glimpse at the vibrant cultures of the
Caribbean. (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
12/15/99: The Great Indian
Land Grab (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Reclaiming Indian land is the number one priority
for Native America. Much to the dismay of hostile
state governments and anti-treaty organizations,
tribes have been acquiring land through federal
acquisition and land purchases. On this edition,
we looked at the success of the Guidieville Band
of Pomos in California, which were the first California
Indian tribe to get land back. We also looked at
the pending Oneida land claim in upstate New York,
which is on the verge of violence. Guests: Walter
Gray of the Guidieville Pomo and Chaz Wheelock of
the Oneida
Nation. (Listen
to other programs on land issues)
12/14/99: E-Commerce
& Native America (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Electronic commerce looks like it is here to stay.
So how does Native America get caught up on emerging
technologies for business growth and development?
Guests: Electronic
Commerce Resource (ECRC) consultant Lisa Anderson.
(Listen
to other programs on economics.)
12/8/99: Native America
& Religious Freedom (Listen
in RealAudio…)
In Cape Town, South Africa, a group of Native Americans
attended the Parliament of the World's Religions.
This non-legislative body attracted some 6,000 religious
leaders and practitioners from around the planet.
They sought ways to use their religious and secular
spheres of influence to unite in the name of a sustainable
world. Does Native wisdom hold the key? (Listen
to other programs on religious issues)
12/7/99: Indian in the
Spotlight: Paul DeMain (Listen
in RealAudio…)
On this edition of Native America Calling we talked
with Paul
DeMain, Managing Editor and CEO of News
from Indian Country. We asked him to share
his views on recent events from across Native America,
including the recent developments in the case of
Annie Mae Aquash.
12/2/99: World Trade
Organization (Part 2) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native America Calling continued its discussion
on the World Trade Organization (WTO) with reports
and updates from Seattle from NAC Associate Producer
Valerie Taliman and former Director Joseph Leon.
(Listen
to other programs on international issues)
12/1/99: World Trade
Organization 99 (Part 1) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is arguably the
most powerful policy-setting body on the planet.
Several indigenous groups protested at the WTO's
recent proceedings in Seattle, saying the trade
policies up for adoption would greatly harm the
world's Native cultures. NAC Associate Producer
Valerie Taliman and former Director Joseph Leon
reported from Seattle. (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
11/30/99: The Forgiveness
Show (Listen
in RealAudio...)
How much of a part does forgiveness play in the
healing process? Native America Calling discussed
forgiveness, healing, and how the two work together.
11/29/99: Indians and
Ecology (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The idea of the Native American living in perfect
harmony with nature has been one of the most cherished
contemporary myths. That is, according to the author
of a book called "Ecological Indians".
He contends that in past centuries Native people
were not the natural environmentalists we were made
out to be. Guest: Author Shepard Krech III.
11/24/99: Book-of-the-Month:
"Prison Writings" (Listen
in RealAudio...)
In this remarkable memoir, the world's #1 political
prisoner, Leonard Peltier invites us into
his world inside the walls of Leavenworth penitentiary.
His book is a collection of poems and sentiments
about being unjustly imprisoned for more than 23
years. We talked with Harvey Arden, editor of
"Prison Writings: My Life Is My Sundance",
and looked at the ongoing effort to Free Peltier!
(Listen
to other programs on civil rights.) (Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
11/23/99: Tribal Names
& Misnomers (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Do you ever wonder what the true names of tribes
are and how the modern tribal names came to be?
Many tribes still carry the names given to them
by enemies or foreign traders. But what about the
names we call ourselves in our own languages? We
looked at tribal misnomers and asked whether tribes
should go back to our original names. Is this the
first step on the road to true sovereignty?
11/22/99: Auctioning
Sperm & Eggs (Listen
in RealAudio...)
If you had the opportunity to be the parent of a
super model, would you choose to do so? We checked
out a website that shows you how to bid on fertile
human eggs and sperm donated by professional models.
Should we, as a society, allow the practice of selling
the human seeds of life to the highest bidder? Guest:
Martin Teitel, executive director of the Council
for Responsible Genetics (CRG).
11/18/99: Indian Child
Welfare Act (ICWA) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
New proposed amendments to the Indian
Child Welfare Act will help keep Indian babies
being placed into non-native adoptive homes or foster
care. How can Native America stop the flow of Indian
children being taken from their home and culture?
Guests: Terry Cross, Executive Director for the
National ICWA Association.
11/17/99: Native Community
Video Libraries (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Taos Talking Pictures and other organizations have
helped launch two new video libraries at Taos Pueblo.
They consist of 25 films, accompanied by study guides,
intended to address concerns about the lack of distribution
for socially conscious films and videos. How can
this educate the public about Native issues? Guests:
Jason Silverman, artistic director of Taos
Talking Pictures.
11/16/99: Just Check
Native on the Census (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The U.S.
Census Bureau has produced a national advertising
campaign to avoid having the Native American population
undercounted, as it was in 1990. Native people who
are familiar with the Census are saying "Just
Check Native" on the form. Why? Guests:
Curtis Zunigha of the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma
and Michael Gray of G&G Advertising Check
out NAPT's Census page for other related Native
America Calling programs...
11/15/99: Zapatistas
Speak Out (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The ongoing struggle of the Zapatistas and other
indigenous groups with the Mexican government has
continued to escalate in and around the Chiapas
region. We brought you an update on the human rights
situation in Mexico and we also visited with
Rosalinda Santis Diaz of the Kinal Antzetik Women's
Cooperative in San Cristobal as she toured the
U.S. (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
11/11/99: Current Events
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
On this Veterans Day show, we brought you an update
on the new movie-in-the-making about Navajo Code
Talkers in WWII. The producers were still looking
for young Navajo men who can play lead roles in
the film. Also ESPN featured a segment about Indian
sports mascots from their "Outside the Lines"
show. We featured new happenings from around
Indian Country on Native America Calling's November
edition of "Current Events". (Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998
and 1999.)
11/10/99: Six Billion
and Counting (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The world said "happy birthday" to the
six billionth child born in October of 1999. But
some population researchers fear that the world
is reaching its limit to provide for so many people.
In fact, projections suggest that at the current
growth rate the world's population is going to double
within the next 50 years. How do we balance the
needs of the population with the planet's ability
to provide them? Guests: Charon Asetoyer of the
Native
American Women's Health Resource Center. Check
out NAPT's Census page for other related Native
America Calling programs...
11/8/99: Is There a Sixth
Sense? (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The recent movie "The
Sixth Sense" has brought up a lot of questions
about heightened perception. Like what is intuition?
What is special insight? Are these special abilities
gifts or curses? And how do we become more in-tune
with and learn to trust our intuitive senses? We
went beyond the ordinary and searched for the sixth
sense.
11/4/99: The Murder of
Anna Mae Pictou Aquash (Part 2) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
On this program Native America Calling heard from
the accused. Hear what the accused had to say in
their defense after being named Anna Mae's killers.
Also hear what some of the accusers had to say back.
Guests: Vernon Bellecourt and Ward Churchill.
(Listen
to other programs on civil rights.)
11/3/99: The Murder of
Anna Mae Pictou Aquash (Part 1) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Members and former members of the American Indian
Movement (AIM) as well as members of Anna Mae's
family came forth on this program to allegedly expose
who murdered Anna Mae. Native America Calling discussed
the murder of Anna Mae Pictou Aquash and what it
meant to Indian Country. Guests: Paul
DeMain, Editor-in-Chief of News
from Indian Country, Native journalist
Minnie Two-Shoes, and Russell
Means. (Listen
to other programs on civil rights.)
11/2/99: Indian in the
Spotlight: Wallace Coffey (Listen
in RealAudio...)
He's served as tribal chairman for the Comanche
Tribe of Oklahoma, he's been the grand master
of every powwow venue in the Southern circuit, and
now he's focused his energies on advancing Native
arts and culture. We're talking about Wallace Coffey
and we invited you to take a look with us at this
"Indian in the Spotlight" edition of Native
America Calling.
10/28/99: Dumping on
Yucca Mountain (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The nation's entire nuclear waste policy depends
on the opening of Yucca
Mountain in the heart of Western Shoshone country
in Nevada, the proposed storage site for all of
the nation's high-level nuclear waste. But questions
about the site's geological stability as well as
the cultural impacts on the Shoshone people have
yet to be resolved. Will Yucca Mountain become the
nation's waste repository? Or will the Shoshone
people prevail and protect their sacred mountain?
Guests: Mary Olsen, Southeast Regional Director
of the Nuclear Information Resource Service. (Listen
to other programs on environment.) (Listen
to other programs on land issues)
10/27/99: Stop the Domestic
Violence (Listen
in RealAudio...)
We have marched and protested the murders of Indian
men in border towns, but yet we have ignored the
violence that is taking place in our own homes and
backyards. Domestic violence has still plagued Native
American families. What toll has this abuse taken
on the future of Native America? What approaches
are working on the community, state, and nationwide
levels? Guests: Patricia Madrid, Attorney
General for the State of New Mexico.
10/26/99: Book-of-the-Month:
"From the Belly of My Beauty"
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Esther Belin is a member of the Navajo Nation who
was raised in Los Angeles and educated at Berkeley.
Her
book of poems brings an authentic view of Native
life growing up off-Rez. Her poetry captures displacement,
disillusionment, and the ways that Native Americans
reconcile a modern world with traditional beliefs.
(Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
10/25/99: What's in Store
for Indian Arts (Listen
in RealAudio...)
So much has happened with Indian Arts in 1999. The
Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) broke
ground on a new campus in Santa Fe. New international
markets are opening up and Native arts organizations
are also forming alliances to strengthen the Native
presence in the worldwide art industry. What does
the future hold for Indian arts? Guests: IAIA
President Della Warrior.
10/21/99: Alcatraz: Thirty
Years Later (Listen
in RealAudio...)
It all started on Alcatraz Island 30 years ago
when a group of young Native Americans reclaimed
Alcatraz Island as aboriginal land. This bold move
marked the birth of the modern American Indian Movement.
How far have we come since that takeover on the
Rock? Guests: John
Trudell of the Santee
Sioux Tribe and Adeline Potts of the Athabascan
Nation.
(Listen to other programs on civil rights.)
(Listen
to other programs on history.)
10/20/99: National Native
American Honor Society (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Straight A's used to be out of reach for most Native
students. But through the introduction of an educational
philosophy based on ancient Indian traditions and
customs, there are thousands of Natives with 4.0
grade point averages. Is your child an honor student?
Do you qualify for retroactive membership? Guests:
genetics professor and society founder Frank
Dukepoo of the Hopi
Nation. (Listen
to other programs on education.)
10/19/99: World Indigenous
Rights (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Article VI of the US Constitution states that treaties
entered into between Indian Nations and the American
government affirm the collective rights of tribes.
And the United Nations has established a clear position
of recognizing the sovereign rights of Indigenous
people. So why is the UN's Declaration for the Rights
of Indigenous People still in draft form? Guests:
Leslie Gerson of the U.S.
State Department. (Listen
to other programs on human rights.) (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
10/14/99: Chief Illiniwek
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
A group of Native Americans held a march and rally
against racist mascots at the University
of Illinois homecoming football game in 1999.
They protested the school's refusal to stop using
Chief Illiniwek as their sports mascot. Will the
university and their faithful ever give up their
cherished chief? Guests: Michael Haney, Director
of the National
Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media
10/13/99: Native Prophecies
for the Next Millennium (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Hundreds of Native elders came together to discuss
prophecies for the new millennium and look at what
we might expect in the coming days. They also came
to unite the spiritual movement and give us strength
for the coming age. Guests: members of the Confederation
of Indigenous Elders of America.
10/12/99: The White Clay
Alcohol War (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Indian leaders have planned to file an application
with the Nebraska state liquor commission to open
a liquor store in the tiny uncharted town of White
Clay. They said they want to use the profits to
treat the alcoholism that has been running rampant
on the nearby Pine Ridge Reservation. Is this the
answer to this long-standing problem? Guests:
Frank LaMere of the Winnebago
Nation.
10/11/99: Who Found Who?
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Columbus Day of all national holidays stirs the
most debate among historians and Native scholars.
In fact, there has been a growing movement to reconsider
the observation of Columbus Day as a national holiday,
which has led some to suggest that the holiday be
renamed Indigenous Day. On this edition of Native
America Calling we looked at the Columbus Day debate
and asked: who discovered who? Guests: Bill Means,
President of the International
Indian Treaty Council. (Listen
to other programs on history.)
10/7/99: Current Events
(Live from NCAI) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Hear what has happened in Indian Country and what
happend at the 56th Annual Session of the National
Congress of American Indians. (Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998
and 1999.)
[See the 1999
NCAI page]
10/6/99: The Indian Land
Wars (Listen
in RealAudio...)
If you thought the U.S.-Indian wars were over
in America, you would be wise to think again. States,
corporations, tribes, the federal government and
other entities are all in a giant and complex tug-of-war
over the most precious resource of all in this country
-- land. Is Indian Country's land base shrinking
or growing? Guests: Brian Wallace, chairman of
the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and Madonna
Archambeau, chairwoman of the Yankton Sioux Tribe
of South Dakota. (Listen
to other programs on land issues)
[See the 1999
NCAI page]
10/5/99: Cashing In on
Federal Recognition (Listen
in RealAudio...)
What advantages and opportunities are there
to becoming a federally recognized tribe? Some groups
feel Indian Gaming has been perhaps the biggest
draw. Others feel it has offerred a chance to regain
homelands, language, culture and a sense of community.
While others feel it's the health and education
benefits and other services. What is so good about
being federally recognized? Guests: Apesanahkwat,
chairman of the Menominee
Tribe; D.K Sprague, chairman of the Gun Lake
Band of Potawatomie; Loretta Tuell of the BIA's
Office of Tribal Services; and Oklahoma State
Senator
Kelley Haney and member of the Seminole
Tribe of Oklahoma. Check
out NAPT's Census page for other related Native
America Calling programs...
[See the 1999
NCAI page]
10/4/99: Gambling on
Good Faith
(Listen in RealAudio...)
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 was intended
to help stimulate economies in Indian Country. But
an important part of the process, the actual negotiating
of compacts between states and tribes, was left
vague and unclear. This has caused both confrontations
and celebrations for gaming tribes. What is the
definition of negotiating in good faith? Guests:
Richard Milanovich, chairman of the Agua
Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; Butch
Denny, chairman of the Santee
Sioux Tribe of Nebraska and Jacob Coin, Executive
Director of the National
Indian Gaming Association. (Listen
to other programs on gaming.)
[See the 1999
NCAI page]
9/30/99: Plastic
Shamans (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Unfortunately, there are people out there that
have felt that all it takes to be a medicine
man is the ability to call yourself one. Some
have done it to make a quick buck, while others
just don't know any better. How should Native
America deal with these overnight "holy" men
and the misinformation that they spread? Guests:
Russell
Means. (Listen
to other programs on religious issues)
9/29/99: Losing the
Drug War (Listen
in RealAudio...)
America has poured billions of dollars into what
some say is a losing war on drugs. Should we continue
to throw money at a drug program that has gone
up in smoke? What are the alternatives? Guests:
New
Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.
9/28/99: Book of the
Month: "A Peoples Ecology" (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Tewa author and University of New Mexico professor
Greg Cajete of Santa Clara Pueblo explores sustainable
living from a Native perspective through a collection
of well-written modern essays. Guests: Greg
Cajete. (Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
9/27/99: The Condition
of Native American Studies (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Many Native Studies programs at campuses and universities
have been under attack. Funding has been threatened
and Native educators have found themselves defending
and justifying their existence. Will they survive?
(Find more info on this topic at Indian
U. at indianz.com).
(Listen
to other programs on education.)
9/23/99: What's Better,
Being Single or Married? (Listen
in RealAudio...)
We asked whether the bachelor life or the wedded
life is better. Is everyone looking for the rapture
and bliss that matrimony has to offer? If so why
are so many people single? Guests: indianz.com's
"Love
Monster"
9/22/99: Nuclear-Free
Pacific Rim (Listen
in RealAudio...)
For more than forty years, the Pacific Rim has
been the most popular spot in the world for industrialized
nations to test their atmospheric and underground
nuclear weapons. The indigenous peoples of the
region feel they have grown close to the beginning
of the end for nuclear testing and nuclear weapons
in general. We took you live to a nuclear-free
conference on the Polynesian Island of Tahiti.
(Listen
to other programs on environment.)
9/21/99: Self-Determination
in the South Pacific (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Control over the island communities of the South
Pacific has essentially been divided between four
countries--Britain, France, Germany and the United
States--all of whom have imposed their own form
of imperialistic rule. Will the chains ever be
broken? We continued our coverage from Tahiti.
9/20/99: Smart Genes
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Scientists at Princeton
University created a "super
mouse" by altering its DNA to make it
smarter. They claimed that DNA engineering made
the mouse learn faster and remember longer. If
we can improve learning and memory in mice, can
we do the same for humans? Should we use genetics
to make ourselves, our kids, and even our parents
smarter?
9/16/99: Waco: The
White Man's Wounded Knee? (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Both and Wounded Knee questioned the authority
of the US and both were attacked. Is Waco "the
White man's Wounded Knee?" Will the truth
ever be known about either? Will the truth ever
be known by everyone--including mainstream America?
Guests: Ward Churchill, author of the book
Cointelpro Papers
9/14/99: Problems
in the Workplace (Listen
in RealAudio...)
In a perfect world we would all come to work with
smiles on our faces, happy and focused on the
tasks at hand. Yet we all know that the demands
of the workplace combined with the demands of
our personal lives have kept us from achieving
this on a regular basis. What happens when things
go haywire at work? How should we respond to problems
in the workplace? Guests: Jack Deal of Deal
Consulting Group
9/13/99: BIA Update
with Kevin Gover (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Kevin Gover, the Assistant Secretary of the
Interior and head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
joined our discussion once again to tackle the
issues and answer the hard questions. We talked
about the newly issued BIA report on tribal priority
allocations, the controversy concerning the Saginaw
Chippewa tribe, and other questions and concerns
from across Indian Country. Guests: Kevin
Gover, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs
and head of the BIA
9/9/99: The First Americans?
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
For centuries, Native Americans were believed
to be the first inhabitants of the Great Turtle
Island, or what is now known as the Americas.
But startling new theories are developing insisting
that Native Americans were not here first. Some
scientists are arguing that Europeans were here
first, others contend it was Australian Aborigines.
Who were the First Americans?
9/7/99: Warrior Radio
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Commonly known as pirate
radio, micro-powered radio stations have popped
up everywhere. Micro-powered radio stations had
become so much a part of the broadcasting landscape
that the FCC
considered issuing "pirate
radio licenses." Some tribal communities have
been ready to start up their own "warrior radio"
stations, claiming that sovereign rights give
them the power to produce this signal on Native
lands. Guests: Luke Heiken Broadcast Attorney
and Govinda Dalton micro transmitter engineer.
(Listen
to other programs on media issues)
9/1/99: Heaven &
Hell (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Early in 1999 Pope
John Paul II announced that heaven and hell
are spiritual metaphors, not actual places. Native
America Calling and its listeners took a look
at some complex question: What are heaven and
hell? Are they real or imagined places? Or are
they just metaphors? Do they exist here in this
reality? And if they are simple metaphors, what
purpose do they serve? (Listen
to other programs on religious issues)
8/30/99: Crisis in
Chiapas (Listen
in RealAudio...)
We examined the military buildup in Chiapas and
asked, "What can Native America do to help
find a peaceful resolution and defuse the current
crisis?" Guests include: Jason Wallick
of the Mexico
Solidarity Network, and representatives from
the US
State Department and the Mexican
Embassy in Washington DC.
8/26/99: Book of the
Month: "Men on the Moon" (Listen
in RealAudio...)
In this collection of 26 short stories called
"Men
on the Moon", author/poet Simon Ortiz
of Acoma Pueblo again carries his readers to the
world of his Pueblo people. Ironically, he uses
his gift of writing to express an ageless oral
culture and its traditions. His tales are about
the land, spirituality, grief, happiness, and
the power of storytelling itself. (Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
8/25/99: The River
that Harms (Listen
in RealAudio...)
A television program in August of 1999 documented
the largest radioactive waste accident on Navajo
Nation lands. The accident occurred back in 1979
and for the most part little attention has been
shed on this uranium accident that has affected
families and communities throughout Navajoland.
When will this tragedy be brought to light? Guests:
The video's producer, Colleen Keane of KNME-TV
in Albuquerque. (Listen
to other programs on environment.) (Listen
to other programs on history.)
8/24/99: Native Education
Foundation (Listen
in RealAudio...)
For years Indian education leaders have struggled
with Congress over funding. Now a private foundation
is being created to fill the gap left by funding
shortfalls in Indian education. Why has it taken
so long for this novel approach to finally come
about? Has it come in time to save Indian education
from the chopping block? Guests include Michigan
Congressman Dale
Kildee of the Democratic Party. (Listen
to other programs on education.)
8/19/99: NAC Update
Edition (Part 2) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
We concluded our update series on Native America
Calling with updates on past programs including
the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP), child
predators, and Grass Roots Radio Conference.
8/18/99: NAC Update
Edition (Part 1) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native America Calling has covered a lot of different
issues since the beginning of 1999. On part 1
of a two-part series, we revisited some of those
issues including Acteal, repatriation, Whiteclay,
and more. Guests: Judi Morgan, Executive Director
of the Nebraska Indian Commssion. (Listen
to other programs on NAGPRA and repatriation issues)
8/17/99: Youth Action
Summit (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native youth are restless and they're going to
do something about it! Hundreds of Native teens
participated in a youth summit in Denver to draft
a youth action agenda for the coming years. We
visited with some of these rising stars and share
in their vision of a prosperous, healthy, and
vibrant Native America. Guests: Organizer Binishi
Albert of Youth Action Network .
8/16/99: Native America's
Vacation Getaway (Listen
in RealAudio...)
As Native America diversifies its economy, tourism
has becoming one of the front runners for economic
development. Instead of reading about the Native
experience, people can come be part of it in a
nice neat vacation package. Can the wilds of Native
America be the next vacation hot spot of the Americas?
Guests: Lorintino Lallo of the New
Mexico Department of Tourism.
8/12/99: The Age of
Super Disasters (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The International
Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) released a
report suggesting that the world will experience
super disasters in the very near future. The IFRC
says as a result of global warming that the world
will see severe droughts, floods, earthquakes
and famines that will affect every quadrant of
the planet. How can we prepare for the Age of
Disaster? Guests include the IFRC
and The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
8/11/00: Globalization
& the Indigenous World (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Globalization of the free market and natural resources
is a fact of life today. You see less and less
corporations controlling more and more of the
land, natural resources and labor. How is the
globalization of the world's economies affecting
the Indigenous world, which holds 80% of the worlds
remaining natural resources? Guests include
Roy Taylor of the North American Indigenous Peoples
Bio-Diversity Project and Winona
LaDuke of the Honor
the Earth Campaign and Indigenous Women's
Network.
8/9/99: Remembering
Nagasaki & Hiroshima (Beyond the Bomb)
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
On August 9, 1945 the US dropped the first
atomic bomb on the people of Nagasaki, Japan.
An estimated 64,000 civilians died. Then we dropped
a second atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Native America
Calling honored the memories of those nuclear
victims as well as measure today's nuclear threat.
Guests: Dr. Helen Caldicott of Physicians
for Social Responsibility and actor Martin
Sheen. (Listen
to other programs on history.)
8/2/99: Current Events
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Once again, it's time to catch up on all the news
from Indian Country. A red alert is being sounded
as protesters are being arrested for protecting
a sacred site in Minnesota. In Hollywood, Indians
are being left out of the TV industry again. The
Cherokees
of Oklahoma have a new Chief and the Indian
newspaper "The Lakota Times" is being resurrected
after a long absence.
7/29/99: Native Prisoner
Rights (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Some rehab counselors say that Native prisoners'
ability to practice their spiritual ceremonies
have been absolutely key to their quest for
rehabilitation. But many penal institutions
have continued to deny these rights. We looked
at efforts to implement Native prisoner rights
throughout the entire prison system. Guests:
Walter
Echohawk of the Native
American Rights Fund. (Listen
to other programs on human rights.)
(Listen
to other programs on religious issues)
(Listen
to other programs on legal issues)
7/27/99: UFO Congress
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The annual International
UFO Congress conventions have grown into
the largest UFO conferences in the world. On
the July 27, 1999, UFO/metaphysics edition of
Native America Calling, we visited the 1999
congress in Mesquite, Nevada, and listened to
discussions of UFO reports and metaphysical
occurrences. Guests: Bob Brown of the UFO
Congress
7/26/99: The Language
of Spirituality (Listen
in RealAudio...)
There have been some in the science world who
have said that the English language has reached
its limit in trying to articulate the processes
of quantum physics and other complex scientific
phenomena. A
group of physicists have been looking to indigenous
languages for the right words and phonetic
codes to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
Do Native languages contain the hidden codes
of the universe? Guests: Dan MoonHawk Alford,
writer and linguist and originator of "Quantum
Linguistics".
7/22/99: The Panama
Canal (Listen
in RealAudio...)
In December 1999 the Panamanian people will
take control of the key to their economy: the
Panama Canal. The canal has represented the
most important trade route from east to west.
Who will control the canal and how will it affect
the Native peoples of the Western hemisphere?
Guests: Tony Gonzales of the International
Indian Treaty Council from the United Nations
in Geneva Switzerland. (Listen
to other programs on economics.) (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
7/21/99: Forming
International Native Markets (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The Assembly
of First Nations Canada met with the National
Congress of American Indians during the
week of July 21 in Vancouver. They hammered
out a Native/Aboriginal trade pact which will
unite emerging Native markets in the Americas.
Can the Native American Free Trade Agreement
survive today's market forces? Guests: Menominee
Tribal Chairman Apesanakwat. (Listen
to other programs on economics.) (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
7/19/99: Urban Indians
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
The
Census Bureau predicted that over 80% of
Native Americans will be living off reservation
by the year 2000. Will this mass migration affect
the cultural future of Native America? And will
tribes have to change policies to assist their
tribal members living in urban areas? Guests:
Gertrude Bakwanaga of the Northwest Indian Center
in Minneapolis. Check
out NAPT's Census page for other related Native
America Calling programs...
7/15/99: Hate Crimes
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native America has been the constant target
of racially motivated murders since this country's
birth. Now with 1999's rash of highly publicized
racial killings, the consciousness of the country
has turned towards the roots of these hideous
crimes. What drives someone to commit these
horrible acts of hatred? Guests: Ward Churchill,
professor of Ethnic Studies at the University
of Colorado-Boulder and author of "A
Little Matter Of Genocide: Holocaust and Denial
In The Americas, 1492 to the Present".
(Listen
to other programs on racism.)
7/14/99: Marriage
in the Classrooms (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Schools in over 40 states have experimented
with marriage curriculum. That's right, college
and high school students have participated in
mock marriages, which last an entire school
year, to learn what it means to be married.
Educators have hoped these marital plays will
help reduce the country's rising divorce rate.
Can this kind of curriculum work in Native America?
Guests: Diane Sollee of the Coalition
for Marriage, Family and Couples Education.
(Listen
to other programs on education.)
7/13/99: Indian in
the Spotlight: Russell Means (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Hear what one of Indian Country's more controversial
figures had to say about everything from Whiteclay
to US government policy to the Navajo
Nation's tribal soveringty. Guests: Russell
Means.
7/12/99: Who's Indian
& Who's Not (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The NAC crew came back from the Unity '99 Conference
in Seattle, where one of the topics addressed
was blood quantum and who can be called "a
real Indian." On this edition host Harlan
McKosato asked you, the listening audience,
what makes a person a real Indian: blood quantum
or lifestyle? Check
out NAPT's Census page for other related Native
America Calling programs...
7/8/99: New Millennium/New
Media? (Listen
in RealAudio...)
We continued our live broadcast from Unity '99
Conference and took on the topic of the new
millennium and how minority journalists have
prepared themselves for the new era. On this
edition we assembled some of the best native
and other minority journalists to talk about
the issues and media strategies. Guests:
Ray Suarez, host of "Talk
of the Nation"; Paul
DeMain, Managing Editor and CEO of "News
from Indian Country"; and President
Bill
Clinton. (Listen
to other programs on race.) (Listen
to other programs on media issues)
7/7/99: Minorities
in the Media (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native America Calling broadcast live from the
Unity '99 Journalism Conference in Seattle.
When the Makah
Indians of Washington State announced their
plans to return to their tradition
of harvesting California gray whales, the
media painted them to be outlaws, bloodthirsty
savages, and barbarians. Much of the one-sided
coverage fueled the fires of hostility
against the Makahs. How can we stop the
editorial abuses of mainstream media against
tribal peoples wanting nothing more than to
live their lives according to their ancient
traditions and beliefs? Guests: Makah Tribal
Chairman Ben Campbell Johnson. (Listen
to other programs on race.) (Listen
to other programs on media issues)
7/6/99: Spoiled Food
Supply (Listen
in RealAudio...)
There have been many concerns regarding the
safety of our food supply. In this decade alone
we've seen E-coli
bacteria in meat products, salmonella poisoning
in our poultry, and irradiated foods and genetically
engineered products sold in the marketplace.
Is our food fit to eat? Or are we risking our
health by eating what the corporations and government
put on our menus? Guests: Carol Tucker Foreman,
Director of the Food Policy Institute
7/5/99: Current Events
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
We told you what's happening in your part of
the world on the Current Events Edition for
July 5, 1999. We also had a few updates for
you, like President Bill Clinton's visit to
the Pine Ridge Reservation, the International
Indian Treaty Council Conference held in
the Black Hills of South Dakota, and much more.
Guests: President Salway of the Oglala
Nation. (Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998
and 1999.)
7/1/99:Golf: A Native
American Sport? (Listen
in RealAudio...)
If you have looked closely, you have seen that
more and more quality championship golf courses
are dotting the Native American landscape. "Golf
Digest"reported that "golf is
becoming an uniquely Native American sport."
Two southwest tribes have host PGA
& LPGA
qualifying events, and Navajo golfer Notah
Begay graces the PGA Tour. Is golf becoming
the number one sport in Native America?
6/30/99: Book of
the Month: "The Scalpel and the Silver
Bear" (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Dr. Lori Arviso Alvord, the first female Navajo
surgeon, has brought the holistic healing knowledge
of her people to western medicine. Her
story shares her experience in balancing
two completely different worlds in order to
bring quality healthcare to her people. Can
western and Native medicines be combined? Guests:
Dr. Lori Alvord. (Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
6/29/99: What's In
A Name? (Listen
in RealAudio...)
There is a story and a history behind each of
our family names. For Native people, many of
our names are translations or mutations of our
original tribal names, while some of our names
were given to us in honor of our colonizers.
What's the story behind your family name?
Guests: Sabrina Little Axe of the Absentee
Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.
6/28/99: Protecting
Tribal Logos and Intellectual Property (Listen
in RealAudio...)
There has been a move in the Senate to create
legislation to protect Tribal logos, insignias
and intellectual property. If passed, the legislation
would prohibit businesses from exploiting Tribal
designs and motifs and could also help artists
protect their intellectual property. Can this
legislation adequately protect Native American
intellectual property from free market forces?
Guests: US
Senator Bingaman of New Mexico, who introduced
the legislation.
6/23/99: Sheep Is
Life (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Back in the Dust Bowl years, the government
ordered the Navajo to reduce their herds of
sheep to cut back on what was considered overgrazing.
When the Navajo refused, the government engaged
in a mass slaughter, nearly wiping out the herds.
But one Navajo family began a campaign to save
the Churro sheep, and a way of life. How are
Native traditions intertwined with these animals
and the land? Guests: Sharon Begay, teacher
of Navajo language and culture.
6/22/99: The Honor
of Native Men (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Native men have been getting kicked around and
blamed for a long time for many of the problems
in our tribes, families, and communities. And
certainly males have to accept responsibility
for their lack of leadership. But is this disrespect
being internalized by Native men and then acted
out? When will the honor return? Guests:
Northern
Cheyenne educator Clayton Small.
6/21/99: World Peace
& Prayer Day (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The summer solstice escorted in a host of activities
and ceremonies around the planet. A very special
event was to be held at the University
of Peace in San Jose, Costa Rica. It wass
to be led by Lakota spiritual leader Chief Arvol
Looking Horse, who carried out his forefathers'
vision of mending the sacred hoop. Spread the
message and help us celebrate World
Peace and Prayer Day. (Listen
to other programs on international issues)
(Listen
to other programs on religious issues)
6/17/99: Aboriginal
Voices Festival (Listen
in RealAudio...)
A herd of 2,000 buffalo thundered through the
streets of Toronto as part of the opening ceremonies
for the Aboriginal
Voices Festival. The festival was to encompass
a media conference for television and radio
broadcasters, journalists, filmmakers, and other
new media artists. Will US Indian journalists
ever catch up with the Canadians? Guests:
festival coordinator Alanis King
6/16/99: The Tobacco
Wars (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Last fall, when a settlement was reached between
states and the
tobacco industry it was acknowledged that
Native people have suffered greatly from the
effects
of smoking. Yet tribes were not allotted
any compensation. Tribes throughout Indian Country
have planned to get their fair share. Did the
tobacco settlement benefit anyone in Indian
Country? Guests: Harold Salway, President
of the Oglala Sioux Nation
6/15/99: International
Indian Treaty Council (IITC) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The Hunkpapa Lakota Nation invited you to their
25th Anniversary Treaty conference at Mato
Paha (Bear Butte), a sacred traditional
area in the Paha Sapa (Black Hills). Indigenous
people from around the world gathered to discuss
international developments that affect local
communities, and to build joint strategies.
Is Native America making progress at the international
level? Guests: Andrea Carmen of IITC.
(Listen
to other programs on international issues)
6/14/99: Persistent
Organic Pollutants (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Have you ever heard of POPs-persistent
organic pollutants? They are the products
and bi-products of recent human industry. They
are pesticides and dioxins that float through
the air, travel in our water, and concentrate
themselves in living organisms, including humans.
Guests: Tom Goldtooth of the Indigenous
Environmental Network. (Listen
to other programs on environment.)
6/9/99: Labor Unions
on Tribal Lands (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Workers on tribal trust lands do not have the
same rights as most U.S. workers because of
the sovereign immunity of tribal governments.
This gives tribes the authority to reject any
fair labor laws for employees on their reservation,
such as a minimum wage, health care, and other
benefits. In response, the hotel and restaurant
labor movements have organized union efforts
for tribal casino workers in California. What
workers' rights come with sovereign
immunity? (Listen
to other programs on land issues)
6/8/99: The Ups and
Downs of Nuclear Energy (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The nuclear industry has started a massive media
campaign saying technological advances have
made nuclear
power a safe, clean, and abundant source
of energy. Industry officials have said nuclear
power is the only true alternative to burning
fossil fuels, which has contributed heavily
to global
warming. Is it time we consider nuclear
energy as a safe source of energy? (Listen
to other programs on environment.)
6/7/99: Innovative
Indian Homes (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Have you ever wondered if the house you live
in affects your quality of life? A number of
newer housing projects in Native communities
feature traditional building techniques, styles,
and materials to create energy efficient, environmentally-sound,
and culturally-appropriate homes. What is a
culturally-appropriate home? Guests: Dennis
Holloway of the Colorado
Solar Hogans Project and James Poley of
the Hopi Foundation
6/3/99: Youth Gangstas
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
Whether we like it or not, gangs have become
part of the Native American youth culture. Gangs
and gang activities are a huge problem for every
community. But are there any positive things
we can learn from gang behavior? In the
gang world, peers choose the leader, the
kids defend their turf and their people, and
they develop their own underground economies.
If these things could be accomplished without
kids shooting each other, or abusing drugs and
alcohol, wouldn't they be acceptable?
6/2/99: US Gambling
Moratorium (Listen
in RealAudio...)
There has been some talk in Washington, DC to
put a moratorium on any new gaming operations
or expansions. A federal commission released
a report suggesting that gambling is creating
problems like addiction and a rise in youth
gambling. But it's not clear what the economic
benefits are. So the commission has been looking
to stop all new gaming until they figure out
what the different effects are. Does the federal
government have the right to stop tribal
gaming expansions? (Listen
to other programs on economics.) (Listen
to other programs on gaming.)
6/1/99: Current Events
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
We opened the lines for you and invited you
to share with us the issues affecting your community.
We welcomed back KIDE radio in Hoopa, California.
This hip tribal station is back on the air and
is taking the meaning of radio active to a whole
other level. Guests: Joe Orozco, General
Manager of KIDE. (Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998
and 1999.)
5/27/99: Gun Control
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Enough is enough! The
school shootings at Heritage High School outside
of Atlanta is the second major incidence of schoolyard
violence in the U.S. in one month. We look into
the question of whether stricter gun
regulations keep firearms out of the hands
of troubled children? And how do we stop the trend
of schoolyard assaults? Listen
to an earlier program on the Columbine massacre
that occurred just one month earlier…
(Listen
to other programs on legal issues)
5/26/99: Book of the
Month: "Bead on an Anthill" (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Oglala Sioux author Delphine Red Shirt describes
the resiliency her people have displayed in spite
of the tragedy and poverty of reservation life.
This
book tells her personal story of growing up
in Nebraska and on the Pine Ridge Reservation
in the 1960s and 70s. She struggles with the question
of whether Native people can blend the old traditional
ways with the new modern ways. Can we walk in
two worlds? (Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
5/24/99: Computer Tutors
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Did your child make the grades he or she was hoping
for this semester? Or did he or she fall a little
short? Did you find yourself saying, "If
I could just find someone to tutor my child, I
know he could get better scores?" Well, we
may have the answer. There is a live tutoring
service over the Internet that has come to Native
America at a computer near you. Guests: Corrine
Kills Pretty Enemy of Tutornet,
Inc.
5/20/99: Eagle Repository
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Many of our sacred tribal ceremonies rely on Eagle
feathers and other parts of this extraordinary
feathered creature. But because of its status
as a national symbol and its listing as an endangered
species, Native people have to go through a long
and burdensome process through a repository in
Denver to obtain Eagles and their feathers. Should
Native people be able to capture and kill Eagles
for ceremonial purposes?
5/17/99: Living Together
Out of Wedlock (Listen
in RealAudio…)
More and more couples have been moving in together
before they are married. Many maintain that this
has been the best way find out if they are compatible
before they tie the knot. But evidence has shown
that your marriage is less likely to work if you
live with your partner first. How do you feel
about co-habitation before marriage? Guests:
marriage analyst David Popenoe.
5/13/99: Kevin Gover
on Indian Education (Listen
in RealAudio...)
"Our schools no longer represent, in many
cases, an effective learning environment",
said Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau
of Indian Affairs. To remedy the problem the Department
of the Interior proposed a 1.2 billion-dollar
plan to replace or repair 170 federal Indian schools.
Guests: Kevin
Gover, Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs
and head of the BIA.
(Listen
to other programs on education.)
5/12/99: Fatherless
Children (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Fatherless
families have become very prevalent today,
but yet no one knows for sure how it affects the
social fabric of our society. We looked at the
fatherless child and examined the
importance of a father's role in rearing children.
And can fathers still be good parents even when
living outside the home? Guests: family experts
Dr. Wade Horn and Scott Ray.
5/6/99: Uwa Indians
vs. Occidental Oil (Listen
in RealAudio…)
We visited with the Uwa Indians of Colombia. They
were here in the United States to ask Occidental
Oil to stop all oil operations within their homeland.
We also honored the memories of Ingrid Washinawatok,
Terrence Frietas and Lahenae Gay, the three
activists killed in Colombia while trying
to help the Uwas in their fight for self-determination.
5/5/99: Born Again
Indians (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Christianity has forever made an impression on
Native America. Many tribal communities adopted
this form of spirituality within the context of
their own beliefs. But because of past experiences,
many have harbored mixed emotions about their
religious beliefs. Why have people accepted Jesus
Christ and not Christianity? Guests: Leon Matthews,
a Lakota Pastor from Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
(Listen
to other programs on religious issues)
5/4/99:
Cradleboard Project (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Since Buffy
Sainte-Marie has traveled the world interacting
with diverse peoples promoting Native culture
and helping children of all ethnic backgrounds
discover that Native American culture is alive
and well. Guests: Buffy Sainte-Marie. For
more information visit the Cradleboard
Project website. (Listen
to other programs on education.)
5/3/99: Current Events
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
So much has happened in Indian Country, from the
opening of the first Native American Aeronautics
School in New Mexico to the first Native March
for Sovereign Rights in Alaska. We also brought
you an update on Leonard Peltier's fight for freedom
and introduced you to a group of Pueblos performing
an opera. (Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998
and 1999.)
4/29/99: Chemtrails--Artificially
Changing the Weather (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Reports have come from across the country about
weird trails left in the sky. But these aren't
the contrails left by commercial airlines. These
are chemtrails,
which are chemical tracers used to manipulate
and monitor weather patterns. Some people say
these trails are weaving a web of toxic chemicals
that are affecting human health. Guests: chemtrail
investigator William Thomas. (Listen
to other programs on environment.)
4/28/99: Book of the
Month: "Gardens in the Dunes" (Listen
in RealAudio…)
In her book titled "Gardens
in the Dunes", author Leslie Marmon Silko
weaves a tale about the clash of cultures at the
beginning of the 20th century. It's a story about
the acquisition of the American West and the indigenous
struggle to withstand these tumultuous and turbulent
times. (Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
4/27/99: Domestic Violence
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
If you've never had to deal with domestic
violence in your home, you're one of the lucky
few. Unfortunately, statistics in 1999 showed
that domestic violence was on the rise, much of
which was not reported. The sad thing is that
Native households recorded the highest numbers
of domestic abuse. What can be done to stop terror
in the home? Guests: domestic violence expert
Bonnie Campbell.
4/26/99: America's
Schoolyards--The New Killing Fields (Listen
in RealAudio…)
America's schoolyards had become the new
killing fields in 1999. Babes with guns had
been hunting down other kids. From the beginning
of 1997 until April of 1999, there were ten major
schoolyard killings including the massacre at
Littleton school in Columbine Colorado. Why? That's
the question we dealt with on this special edition
of Native America Calling.
4/22/99: The Comedy
Shop (Listen
in RealAudio...)
The comedy shop was open for business and proprietor
comedian Drew LaCapa was having a two for one
"laugh-it-up" sale. Listeners had a
few laughs with us on this special comedy edition
of Native America Calling. (Listen
to other programs on humor.)
4/21/99: Toxic Hot
Spots (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The toxic threat to Indian Lands has been a persistent
problem. Mining, bad forest management, oil development
and hazardous waste facilities have plagued the
Native American frontier. On this edition of Native
America Calling we looked at the environmental
hotspots and searched for ways to stop the toxic
threat. Guests: Jackie Warledo of Green
Peace and Tom Goldtooth of the Indigenous
Environmental Network. (Listen
to other programs on environment.)
4/20/99: The Holy Smoke
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
On this edition of Native America Calling we took
a look at the spiritual and cultural uses of tobacco.
With all the anti-smoking
campaigns that have occurred across the country
at least everyone should know by now that smoking
is bad for your health. But in the wake of all
these anti-tobacco campaigns, what have we been
doing to protect the ritualistic uses of this
sacred plant? Guests: Lawrence Shorty, a traditional
tobacco farmer. (Listen
to other programs on religious issues)
4/15/99: Poetry Slam
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Poetry contests have grown more and more popular,
especially with the younger crowd. In celebration
of National Poetry Month, we presented a live
Poetry Slam with up and coming Native poets. Listeners
had a chance to participate by calling and voting
for their favorite on-air poems from different
categories. Guests: students from the Native
American Preparatory School.
4/13/99: Spring Planting
Tips (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Spring is the time to get out your tiller, your
fertilizers, and your favorite seeds. The winter
thaw literally lays the groundwork for the annual
rite of planting. What have been some tips and
pointers for making sure your crops bloom to full
fruition? Guests: Native green thumbs who will
be online to take your gardening questions and
advice.
4/12/99: The Young
& the Reckless (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Someone dies in an auto accident every thirteen
minutes in this country. In 1999, crashes were
the leading cause of death for young people. Some
states introduced tougher standards before letting
teens behind the wheel, but will that be enough
to lower the crash rates of young people? How
do we reduce the risks on America's roadways?
Guests: Ron Engle of the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
4/8/99: Current Events
with John Trudell
(Listen in RealAudio...)
Hear what Dakota poet, musician, and spiritual
intellectual John Trudell had to say about art,
politics, life, and the events of the time. Guests:
John
Trudell.
(Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998
and 1999.)
4/7/99: Institute of
American Indian Arts (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The
Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) broke
new ground as it prepared to build a new campus
in Santa Fe. Find out what was going on with the
IAIA and with Indian art in general in 1999 on
this edition of Native America Calling.
4/5/99: South Dakota
Land Transfer (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The Great Sioux Nations stand to lose up to 200,000
acres of treaty lands to the state of South Dakota.
The tribes have fought the implementation of the
Cheyenne
River/Lower Brule/State of South Dakota Wildlife
Habitat Restoration Act. Can the Sioux Nations
keep their landbase intact under such legislative
attacks and buyouts? Guests: members of the
Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council. (Listen
to other programs on land issues)
4/1/99: April Fool's
(Listen
in RealAudio...)
What? The Pequots have bought the Washington Redskins.
Monica Lewinsky reaches out to Indian Country.
The US Supreme Court says the US must now recognize
all treaties signed with Native Americans--and
this time they mean it. Listen to these and other
unbelievable, often hilarious, news stories from
across Indian Country on this special April Fool's
edition of NAC. (Listen
to other programs on humor.)
3/31/99: The Kosovo
Crisis (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The Clinton Administration committed our fighting
forces to instill peace in the troubled region
of Yugoslavia. The military
operation in Kosovo
had many people asking: is it necessary for
us to involve ourselves in someone else's civil
war? Are there more peaceful solutions to implement
peace rather than putting our sons and daughters
in harm's way?
3/29/99: The Mille
Lacs Decision (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The US Supreme Court surprisingly ruled that the
Anishinabe people of the Great Lakes could continue
to hunt and fish on public land without state
regulations stated in their 1837 treaty with the
United States. Has this ruling given hope other
tribes across Indian Country who have battled
with states over treaty issues? Guests: Larry
Leventhal of the American
Indian Research and Policy Institute. (Listen
to other programs on land issues) (Listen
to other programs on legal issues)
3/25/99: The Business
of Indian Art (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Indian art, as you know, has been big business
and it's getting bigger. Native
artists have enjoying unprecedented success
in the domestic markets, and with the right expertise
they could capitalize on the world markets ...
big time! So how do Native artists get savvy about
marketing and selling their products? We talked
about the business of art on the March 25, 1999,
program of Native America Calling.
3/24/99: Wanted: Native
Journalists (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Journalists from different ethnic backgrounds
including Native American, Asian-American, Latino,
and African-American were to gather in the summer
of 1999 in Seattle. They were to meet in an effort
to share ideas and discuss how to create a louder
voice for minority issues in mainstream media.
But the first step was to develop minority journalists.
Join our guests Bernadette Chato of KTNN
radio on the Navajo Nation and Doug Mitchell
of NPR's
Weekly Edition as we talked about a program
designed to help aspiring journalists break into
the world of radio. (Listen
to other programs on media issues)
3/23/99: Tax Free USA
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
March is the time of year for taxes--time
to gather all of your receipts, your W-2, your
tax forms, and your headache medicine. Have you
ever tried to imagine a world with no taxes? Well,
there are some bold and rather innovative thinkers
who came up with a plan to at least have a country
with no taxes. Is the plan legitimate? (Listen
to other programs on economics.)
3/15/99: Wisdom Keepers
of the North (Listen
in RealAudio…)
A coalition of healers and medicine people called
"The Wisdom Keepers of the North" converged
in Alaska to heal and protect the Bearing Sea.
The Gwitchins of the Arctic Circle resurrected
an ancient trail that connects their US and Canadian
villages. The people of the north were on the
move to heal, protect, and unify the people and
the land. Guests: Larry Merculieff of the Bearing
Sea Coalition & Gideon James of Venetie Village.
3/11/99: The Supernatural
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Since time immemorial, the world of the paranormal
has intrigued every culture on this planet. There
have always been strange, unexplained occurrences
that keep people in search of these mysterious
powers and forces. Is there truly a world of spirits
and other supernatural beings? Are you experienced?
Guests: ghostbusters John Zaffis and Mike Roberge.
3/9/99: The Killings
in Colombia (Part 2) (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Native America Calling preempted the program for
3/9/99 to continue our discussion about the kidnapping
and killings
in Colombia. We spoke with some of the International
negotiating team and tried to answer the questions
that everyone has been asking: Who was responsible
for these crimes and what can be done to protect
our organizers in the third world?
3/8/99: Killings in
Colombia (Part 1) (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Three Americans: Ingrid Washinawatok, Terence
Freitas, and Lahe'ena'e Gay were found dead on
March 4, 1999. They were working on setting up
schools for the Uwa Indians, who had been and
continue to fight to keep oil development off
their land. Native America Calling grieved over
the killings
in Columbia as well as talked about their
deaths with the rest of Indian Country.
3/1/99: Violence against
Native America (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The Justice Department's Bureau
of Justice Statistics (BJS) said that Native
Americans had been victims of violent crimes at
more than twice the rate of all US residents.
The sad irony was that as the national crime rates
went down, violent crimes were on the rise in
Indian Country. What can be done to understand
and stop the violence
against Native America? Guests: Steve Smith
of the BJS
and co-author of the report. (Listen
to other programs on racism.)
2/25/99: White Supremacy/White
Hatred (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The 1999 trial of white supremacist Bob King shocked
America. But the sad truth was that the number of
white supremacists and other hate groups were growing
in numbers in 1999 and had become America's number
one skeleton in the closet. What
can be done do put out the fires of racial hatred?
We discussed white supremacy and white hatred on
Native America Calling. (Listen
to other programs on racism.)
2/24/99: Book of the
Month: "The Trickster and the Troll"
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
This
book is a tale about Iktomi, the trickster figure
from Lakota legend, and Troll, the familiar character
from Norse mythology. Author Virginia
Driving Hawk Sneve joined us to talk about
how these two characters meet and discover that
their lives maintain very similar circumstances
in regard to cultural survival. (Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
2/23/99: Open Lines w/Kevin
Gover (Listen
in RealAudio...)
Hear how Kevin Gover responded to questions from
across Indian Country. Guests: Kevin
Gover, Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs
and head of the BIA
2/22/99: Buffalo Soldiers
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Soon after the Civil War, the US Cavalry recruited
and trained a group of black men and sent them westward
for duty in the Indian Wars. Some historians referred
to these Indian fighters as heroic, while some tribal
members referred to them as traitors and villains.
What was the true history between the Buffalo Soldiers
and Native America? Guests: George Carter of
the Buffalo
Soldier Society of New Mexico. (Listen
to other programs on race.)
2/18/99: Aztec Wisdom
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Former NAC Director Joseph Leon visited with an
Aztec elder about the Aztec connection to the Southwest
and explored the healing and spiritual philosophies
of these ancient peoples.
2/17/99: The Dead Zones
& America's Waterways (Listen
in RealAudio…)
There have been weird viruses and microorganisms
spawning in America's waters. And according to studies
in 1999, where there are no new exotic life forms
emerging, the waters are becoming wastelands. Take
the Gulf of Mexico, for example. How serious and
widespread is the threat to our oceans and waterways?
And how do we protect and restore them? Guests:
Boyce Thorne-Miller of SEAWEB.
(Listen
to other programs on environment.)
2/16/99: Indian Civil
Rights Movement (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Did you know that Native America was way ahead of
our time in advocating civil rights? That's right,
there were Native organizers who predated the popular
movements of the 1950s & 60s. Elizabeth Peratrovich
was one. The famous Tlingit/Haida woman of Alaska
fought for equality of her people during the 1940s.
But with so many attacks on Native sovereignty have
we really achieved equality? Guests: Neddie Peratrovich
of the Tlingit/Haida Civil Rights Commission. (Listen
to other programs on civil rights.) (Listen
to other programs on history.)
2/11/99: Empowerment
Zones (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The Clinton Administration gave the Pine Ridge reservation
two million dollars to create an Economic
Empowerment Zone in order to attract businesses
to one of the poorest communities in the nation.
But some economists warned that companies who are
looking to sidestep taxes could abuse these zones.
Will Pine Ridge finally find prosperity? Guests:
a spokesperson for the Oglala
Sioux Nation.
2/10/99: The Fighting
Sioux (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The "The
Fighting Sioux" logo of the University
of North Dakota may be on its way out or maybe
not. The student body voted by a narrow margin to
change the logo because it insults the Sioux people
of the region. However, there was a small but influential
group of students and school administrators who
were not willing to change it regardless of the
vote. Have we seen the end of the Fighting Sioux?
Guests: Teresa Brockie, Assiniboine student at USD.
2/9/99: The Alcohol Pill
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
People recovering from alcohol abuse are often tempted
to tip the bottle. There is a medicine on the market
called Naltrexone
that is now being offered through recovery programs
that suppresses this urge to drink. Can this pill
help Indian Country win the war against alcohol
abuse? Guests: Lloyd Vacovsky, director of Assisted
Recovery Centers of Arizona.
2/8/99: BIA Trust Funds
Mismanagement (Listen
in RealAudio…)
Some call it the biggest debacle in the history
of the US federal government. The Bureau
of Indian Affairs had allegedly mismanaged or
lost billions of dollars held in trust for tribes
and individual members. The special trustee appointed
to clear up the mess quit in protest. Guests:
Dom Nessi of the BIA.
(Listen
to other programs on economics.)
2/4/99: Free Leonard Peltier
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Amnesty
International declared American Indian Movement
(AIM) activist Leonard Peltier the world's number
one political prisoner. Leonard is still being held
in Leavenworth Penitentiary, Kansas, where he's
spent the last quarter century for a crime that
he and human rights organizations say he did not
commit. All Leonard has asked for is a fair trail
where he can submit evidence that would clear him
of the murder charges of two FBI agents. Guests:
Gina Bordeaux Roach, an AIM activist who was there
on the Pine Ridge Reservation during the Jumping
Bull shootout; as well as, Ramsey Clark, who was
US Attorney General during Peltier's trial and now
openly opposes Peltier's continued imprisonment.
(Listen
to other programs on civil rights.)
2/1/99: First Americans
in the Arts Awards (Listen
in RealAudio…)
It's the Native version of the Academy Awards, the
Emmys, and the Grammys all rolled into one. This
is Indian Country's most glamorous event and it
is being held in Hollywood, California. What was
your favorite Native movie in '98? Your favorite
music? Your favorite actors and actresses? Guests:
Dawn Jackson, vice-chair of the FAITA
Board of Trustees.
1/28/99: Buffalo Slaughter
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Things were heating up in cold Montana in January
1999. The state was sending buffalo to slaughter,
which outraged many Native and non-native communities.
The state said it's necessary to kill the buffalo
to ensure that brucellosis-carrying bison did not
endanger ranchers' livestock. Opponents of the slaughter
said there is no scientific evidence that proves
this is a real threat. Could the buffalo be saved
from the Montana slaughterhouses? Guests: Michael
Meese of Buffalo
Nations.
1/27/99: Book of the
Month: "Essie's Story" (Listen
in RealAudio…)
This is the life
story of Esther Burnett Horne, a Shoshone woman
who dedicated her life to becoming an accomplished
and inspiring educator in Indian boarding schools.
Her experiences as student and teacher have enabled
her to provide a detailed, authentic portrait of
boarding school life. Guests: Esther Burnett
Horne and co-author Sally McBeth. (Listen
to other literature programs from 1999)
1/26/99: Adolescent Promiscuity
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Sexual encounters and discovery for young adults
can be a dangerous endeavor. With so many sexually
transmitted diseases, an untimely encounter during
a moment of passion can prove to be deadly. How
can our young adults learn the ways of the birds
and the bees in these times of lethal sexual
diseases? Guests: youth organizer Michael
Spears.
1/25/99: Bringing Native
Food Crops to Market (Listen
in RealAudio…)
There are numerous Native agricultural producers
in this country growing high quality organic food
crops. Their biggest obstacle however has been bringing
their goods to the marketplace and the commodities
program. How can we bring Native food crops to market?
Guests: Clayton Brascoupe, program director for
the Traditional
Native American Farmers Association. (Listen
to other programs on economics.)
1/20/99: Nunuvat: Rebirth
of a Nation (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The Native people of the Northwest Territories in
Canada were given back millions of acres to reconstruct
their homeland, Nunuvat.
This return of the land created both opportunity
and risk. The people of Nunuvat now must run their
homeland as an independent country and must develop
their own resources, economy, and tax base. This
also means they run the risk of amassing large debts
and leveraging their loans with the very land they
fought to regain. What can we learn, and how can
we assist in the rebirth of Nunuvat? Guests:
Dalee Sambo. (Listen
to other programs on land issues)
1/19/99: Tribal Governments
in Transition (Listen
in RealAudio…)
'Tis the season for newly elected tribal governments
to take their seat and conduct this year's business
in 1999. But how does the changing of tribal leaders
affect the ever-changing Native political agenda?
Like other elected governments, the Native political
priorities change from administration to administration.
How do we ensure a smooth transition within our
tribal government? Guests: Kevin
Gover, Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs
and head of the BIA.
1/18/99: United States:
Human Rights Defender or Violator? (Listen
in RealAudio…)
The United States has proudly declared itself as
the world leader of human and civil rights. But
according to Amnesty International, the U.S. is
one of the worst human rights offenders domestically
and around the world. Is the U.S. a defender of
human rights or a violator? Guests: Sam Jordan
of Amnesty
International and Leslie Gerson of the U.S.
State Department. (Listen
to other programs on civil rights.) (Listen
to other programs on human rights.)
1/14/99: Does God Exist?
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Does God Exist? Or was life a cosmic accident born
out of a mix of bacteria and a random collision
of atoms? According to a publication in early 1999,
God-or the Great Spirit-does exist and the author
says he has the scientific evidence to prove it!
The existence of the Great Spirit, however, has
never been questioned by Native America. Guests
include Dr. Patrick Glynn, author of "God the
Evidence". (Listen
to other programs on religious issues)
1/13/99: Saving our Languages
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
Probably the most important element in any flourishing
culture is language. With each passing generation,
however, our tribal languages here on Turtle Island
have been vanishing. But tribes have been conscious
of this impending tragedy and many are becoming
proactive to save these precious dialects. What
are you doing to save your tribal
language?
1/7/99: Casino Closures
(Listen
in RealAudio…)
There have been several tribes that are or were
facing closure of their casinos and seizures of
their slot machines. The Colville, Shoalwater Bay,
and Spokane tribes of Upstate Washington are several
examples. Federal officers were ready to close their
casinos, which would have devastating effects on
the tribal economies. Are we witnessing the beginning
of the end for tribal gaming? Guests: Audrey
Conan of the Prarie Island Indian Community of Minnesota.
(Listen
to other programs on economics.) (Listen
to other programs on gaming.)
1/5/99: Current Events
1999 (Listen
in RealAudio…)
1999 promised to bring new and important challenges
for the Indigenous world. On this Current Events
Edition of Native America Calling we updated you
on the events unfolding in Native America as well
as Mexico and South America. We also invited you
to call in with your local issues and events. Guests:
Joanne
Chase and Russell
Means. (Listen
to other current event programs from 1997, 1998
and 1999.)
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