3/29/01: Native Women in Prison (Listen in RealAudio…)
The number of women in prison has tripled since 1980 and on any given day more than 90,000 women are incarcerated in US jails and prisons. Native American women make up nearly 10% of that figure although Native people make up only one percent of the population. What's behind the growing number of women in prison and why are women of color targeted? How are families affected by the absence of a mother or daughter in prison? Guests include Sue Baca of Project Impact in Grants, N.M.

3/28/01: Book of the Month: "My Grandpa Was a Cowboy & an Indian" (Listen in RealAudio…)
Award-winning Lakota author Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve's new book, "My Grandpa Was a Cowboy & an Indian and Other Stories" is a collection of her best works. In her stories about generations of Lakota and Dakota families, Sneve relates the importance of listening to the elders, coming of age, cultural borders and the traditional Lakota history about creation. Join us as Sneve reads excerpts from her newest work and talks about her inspirations.

3/27/01: Indian In the Spotlight: Richard West (Listen in RealAudio…)
The National Museum of the American Indian is the 16th museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Its mission is to preserve and study the languages, history and arts of Native Americans. Director Richard West has the responsibility to uphold this mission and safeguard many sacred Native objects. Many of those objects are priceless sacred ceremonial pieces. How does the museum care for these objects? Is a museum the best place for these objects? Richard West of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma joins us from Washington, D.C.

3/26/01: Healing Our Native Communities (Listen in RealAudio…)
Indian Country is reeling from the intergenerational impact of wars, land thefts, boarding schools, alcoholism, racism and oppression. We see the devastating effects of historical trauma in our youth and families everyday, but what are we doing to fix it? How can we facilitate forgiveness and healing within our families, and empower communities in crisis? Join us for a provocative discussion with wellness trainer Theda New Breast of the Blackfeet Nation.

3/22/01: Indian Trust Funds: Cobell v. Norton (Listen in RealAudio…)
The nation's largest class-action lawsuit ever filed against the U.S. government, involving 300,000 individual tribal members, now lists the defendant as Interior Secretary Gail Norton. And the plot has thickened in this litigation. The latest news is an admission from a BIA senior official that the Interior Department's own reform efforts are "imploding." Will Native account holders win in the end? Guests include Eloise Cobell of the Blackfeet Nation, lead plaintiff in the case. Join hosts, Harlan McKosato and Bernadette Chato, live from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters Conference in San Francisco.

3/21/01: Voices Without Frontiers (Listen in RealAudio…)
The AIROS Network will provide the North American distribution (1000 -1900 ET) for a 24-hour international broadcast campaign against discrimination, co-produced by community radio stations worldwide. NAC will also play a vital role in this event, providing one hour of the programming during our regular live broadcast (1300 - 1400 ET). We'll bring you international guests and live listening audiences from places such as Johannesburg, London, Amsterdam and Mexico City. Join us on the U.N. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

3/20/01: Native Kinship Systems (Listen in RealAudio…)
The fabric of many Native societies is woven from clan systems and extended family relationships intended to hold our families and communities together. Some clans have specific responsibilities within their tribe, while others have specific ceremonial duties. What are the clan ties that bind us together as Native people and why is it important to respect them? Guests include Prof. Marianna Jaimes Guerrero, Women Studies, San Francisco State University.

3/19/01: Campaign Finance Reform (Listen in RealAudio…)
Congress will vote in the next couple of weeks whether or not to cut itself off from millions of dollars in soft money. Supporters of campaign finance reform will duke it out with special interest groups and Capitol Hill incumbents who believe things are fine just like they are. Does Congress have the will power to reform itself? And just how involved is Indian Country in the soft money game? Guests include Congressman Tom Udall, D-NM.

3/15/01: Nurturing Our Future (Listen in RealAudio…)
Women today wear many hats in the family, workplace and community. And the challenge to properly nurture the next generation of women - our daughters - involves education, respect, responsibility and spirituality. What lessons can we share to help raise strong, healthy daughters and to prepare them for the ever-important roles Native women play in our societies? Guests include Navajo educator, entrepreneur and school board member Katherine D. Arviso.

3/14/01: Census Recount (Listen in RealAudio…)
Minority leaders are denouncing U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans' ruling to reject any adjustment of Census numbers to make up for undercounts. Tribal leaders say as many as 150,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives have been left out. More than 12 percent of Indian Country was left off the 1990 Census. Will Native America be undercounted and underrepresented again? How will this undercount affect funding for Indian Country programs and services? Invited guests include Isleta professor Ted Jojola of the University of New Mexico.

3/12/01: Retaining Native Students (Listen in RealAudio…)
The dropout rate for Native students in college continues to be sky high. Indian education leaders are meeting next month to discuss retention strategies. They say a key to increasing retention rates is to create strong frameworks of support at higher education institutions. How can we reverse the dropout trend and graduate our Native students? Guests include Molly Tovar, coordinator of the upcoming R.E.T.A.I.N. conference at the University of Oklahoma.

3/8/01: Honoring Our Grandmothers (Listen in RealAudio…)
In Native America, grandmothers hold a special place within our hearts and cultures. They've lived through generations of social upheaval, boarding schools, language losses and turn-of-the-century technologies. How have our most respected elders and teachers of traditions survived the cultural holocaust while sustaining spirituality and strength? Join as we honor our grandmothers. Guests include Crow elder Alma Hogan Snell, author of "Grandmother's Grandchild."

3/7/01: Defining Faith-Based Organizations (Listen in RealAudio…)
The President's new controversial faith-based initiatives are being debated across America, including Indian Country. Are these proposals inclusive or exclusive of Native America when it comes to recognizing our traditional faith-based beliefs? Will Christian organizations be the only ones funded? What does this mean constitutionally? Does it violate the separation of church and state amendment? Will it influence school prayer laws? Guests include Carole Anne Heart of the Sicangu Lakota Nation, president of the National Indian Education Association.

3/6/01: Indian Gaming Fever (Listen in RealAudio…)
Indian gaming is arguably the most heated battleground between Natives and non-Natives. Many tribes are looking for ideal locations, near or in cities, to put land in trust and build casinos in order to attract lots of gamblers and cash in on the gaming boom. This has drawn the resentment of cities and townspeople, who are mounting all-out efforts to keep Indians and their casinos away from their communities. Has Indian gaming drawn new battle lines? Guests include Victor Rocha, founder of pechanga.net, an Indian gaming news website.

3/5/01: Current Events (Listen in RealAudio…)
Some insiders on Capitol Hill are speculating that branded Indian fighter and former Senator Slade Gorton may be appointed to a seat as a federal judge. A Montana juvenile center is being investigated for using pepper spray excessively on Indian youth. A new bill in Maine could change what schoolchildren in the state are taught about Native people. And Native runners for the Wings of America program recently competed at the national cross-country championships.

3/1/01: Native Women in the New Millennium (Listen in RealAudio…)
"A nation is not defeated until the hearts of its women are on the ground," goes an old Cheyenne saying. And in the struggle for survival, Native women have endured war, slavery, forced relocation, termination, sterilization and racism. Yet they endure and manage to keep language, traditions, family and community alive. What are the major issues facing Native women in the new millennium? Guests include Dr. Henrietta Mann of the Cheyenne Nation and professor of Native American Studies at Montana State University.

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2/28/01: Book-of-the-Month: Briefcase Warriors (Listen in RealAudio…)
Anishanaabe writer E. Donald Two-Rivers has a new collection of six fast-paced, thought-provoking stories for the stage called "Briefcase Warriors." The plays are intricate and multifaceted views of contemporary urban Indian life that range from one-act vignettes to extended portrayals of the seedier side of the urban experience. Two-Rivers won the 1999 American Book Award for his previous collection of short stories called "Survivor's Medicine."

2/27/01: Packaging Tours of Native America (Listen in RealAudio…)
Native American tribes are opening their doors to foreign visitors like never before. Wisconsin tribes have initiated a pilot program to attract international travelers on package tours beginning in the spring of 2001. Other tribes are busy developing new tourism products and experiences that enhance local and regional economies. Can Indian Country become a vacation hotspot of the world? Guests include Ojibway women Sandra Poitra of Turtle Mountain and Gloria Cobb of Lac Du Flambeau, co-chairs of the Annual American Indian Tourism Conference.

2/26/01: Who Owns the Sandia Mountains? (Listen in RealAudio…)
The battle over who owns the west face of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico has triggered a mountain of litigation that has polarized the community. The U.S. Interior Department has ruled in favor of Sandia Pueblo, citing improper surveys and illegal possession. But private homeowners and Albuquerque officials are challenging the decision. Can these parties come to a mutual agreement? Guests include Sandia Pueblo Governor Stuwart Paisano and Bill Kiley of the Sandia Mountain (Homeowners) Coalition.

2/21/01: The Black Seminoles (Listen in RealAudio…)
After the Civil War, the U.S. negotiated treaties with the Choctaw, Cherokee and Seminole Nations requiring them to make African slaves full members of their respective tribes. Last summer the Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma stripped the Black Seminoles of their membership and set off a raging debate over who is an Indian. Two federal lawsuits have been filed over who is entitled to a $56 million land claim settlement.

2/20/01: Book-of-the-Month: "Fire on the Plateau" (Listen in RealAudio…)
Western water and American Indian law expert Charles Wilkinson discusses his latest book in which he examines the conquest of tribes, land and water on the 80-million-acre Colorado Plateau. Wilkinson, who in the 70s worked as a staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, observed that the history of the region "…has given birth to one of the great chapters in American history." Join us for a provocative view of "Fire on the Plateau: Conflict and Endurance in the American Southwest."

2/19/01: Bush's Education Plans for Native America (Listen in RealAudio…)
During the campaign, candidate Bush promised more funding for school construction on reservations and increased funding for education needs in Indian Country. Now that his proposed education plan has been released, how does it measure up to what he promised? How will Bush's national education plan impact Native America? Guests include Carole Ann Heart, President of the National Indian Education Association and Angela Barney-Nez, Executive Director of the Navajo Area School Board Association.

2/15/01: Scientists Playing God (Listen in RealAudio…)
Several weeks ago, scientists accidentally created a virus in monkeys that kills its victims by wiping out their immune systems. Critics worry that this technology could be used in bio-warfare. While some scientific research can be very beneficial in curing diseases and saving lives, it also has its controversies. Cloning animals, DNA transplants and designer babies - when has science gone too far? Are scientists playing God? Guests include Diane Dumanowski, a Boston journalist and co-author of "Stolen Future".

2/14/01: Still in Love (Listen in RealAudio…)
So many of our social problems in Indian Country stem from broken homes and domestic violence. How do we keep our families, especially husband and wife, together and happy? We ask the pros. The couples who have been there, done that. For better or for worse, through thick and thin, how do they do it? We'll share success stories of Native couples who have enjoyed their Silver Anniversary (25th) and are still in love after all these years.

2/13/01: Housing Crisis in Indian Country (Listen in RealAudio…)
Indian housing is by far the most substandard in the country. One out of every 10 homes on reservations lacks complete plumbing and 70 percent of Native Americans are living in severely overcrowded conditions. What's being done to alleviate the housing crisis? And why isn't the federal government meeting its treaty obligations to fund the housing need in Native America? Guests include Bob Gauthier, Housing and Community Development Director for the Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana.

2/8/01: National Poll on Tribal Land Use (Listen in RealAudio…)
How do people across the country view Native Americans? The first poll of its kind was commissioned by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan to discover likely voters' opinions about Native America. The majority of those polled said public schools and colleges should teach more Native American history. Find out what they learned about attitudes toward Indian nations on everything from land rights to taxation to Indian gaming. Guests include Dr. Chris Petras, Legislative Affairs Policy Research Analyst for the Saginaw Chippewa.

2/7/01: Indian in the Spotlight - Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Listen in RealAudio…)
America's only Native American in the U.S. Senate joins us to talk about how he got to the Upper Chamber of Congress and what issues he'll champion in the next four years. Campbell is Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee and serves on the Environmental and Public Works, Veterans, and Energy and Resources Committees. He's passed a record number of bills, led the fight to settle Indian water rights and successfully sponsored legislation to establish the National Museum of the American Indian. What can Indian Country expect from the new Congress?

2/5/01: Current Events (Listen in RealAudio…)
Tribes in Idaho want the legislature to ban the use of the word "squaw" from all place names in the state. The Shoshone Bannock Tribes will play host to Indian nations at the 2002 Olympics. And while President Clinton granted clemency to former Navajo leader Peter MacDonald, he denied Leonard Peltier a pardon. Also on Capitol Hill, Indian leaders are lobbying the new Congress. We welcome you to call with your community's important events. Guests include Native producers at Pacifica's New York City station -- WBAI.

2/1/01: The California Blackouts (Listen in RealAudio…)
Californians are reeling from the effects of power outages and rolling blackouts caused by the shortage of electricity in their state. Businesses, schools, consumers, the elderly and sick are feeling the impacts of rising power costs and uncertain electrical supplies. Will California's energy crisis spread to other states? What is being done to curtail the blackouts? And does the real solution lie in alternative energy sources?

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1/30/01: The Nuclear West (Listen in RealAudio…)
The story of nuclear weapons development in the U.S. West extends from Rocky Flats, Colorado to Los Alamos, NM to Sandia Nanewtional Labs in Albuquerque. The triggers that detonate nuclear bombs are made in those areas and more than 2,500 nuclear warheads are stored at Kirtland Air Force Base. How are communities affected by the jobs, lifestyles and contamination that the nuclear industry has brought to the West? Guests include Len Ackland, author of "Making a Real Killing" which tells the Rocky Flats story.

1/29/01: Children in the Sex Trade (Listen in RealAudio…)
A recent report in the Canadian press found that 90 percent of children involved in the sex trade there are Native. What factors cause children to be pulled into this way of life? And what is being done to pull Native children out of the shadows of prostitution and into productive, healthy lives? Guests include Cherry Kingsley of Save the Children Canada.

1/25/01: Native Elders' Message to America (Listen in RealAudio…)
"As we stand before the dawn of a new millennium, we pray for America's survival, our survival. We pray that we will be given strength by the Creator to follow the footsteps of our forefathers to share our love, respect and compassion for one another." This is the beginning of a spiritual message developed last fall at the National Indian Council on Aging's annual conference in Minnesota. Do you have a spiritual message for our country? Guests include Brooke Mosay Ammann, assistant director of NICOA. (Listen to other programs on religious issues)

1/24/01: Back on the Tribal Rolls (Listen in RealAudio…)
One year ago the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe disenrolled 14 of its 54 members and cut off their per capita payments of more than $100,000 a year. The ousted group, many of whom were former council members, sued in tribal court to regain their tribal status. Two weeks ago, a tribal judge ruled their civil rights had been violated and ordered they be placed back on the tribal rolls. Is casino wealth dividing our tribes? Guests include Mike Stuhf, attorney for the re-enrolled tribal members. (Listen to other programs on economics.) (Listen to other programs on legal issues)

1/23/01: The Trial of Standing Bear (Listen in RealAudio…)
America recently honored the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But another important historical figure in the American civil rights movement, who has remained in obscurity, is Chief Standing Bear of the Ponca Nation. His famous trial in 1879 resulted in the first U.S. court decision "that an Indian is a person within the meaning of the laws of the United States." Who are the unheralded leaders of the Indian civil rights movement? Guests include Phillip Wendzillo, director of cultural affairs for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. (Listen to other programs on history.) (Listen to other programs on legal issues)

1/22/01: Sundance Film Festival (Listen in RealAudio…)
Every year, the Sundance Film Festival offers low-budget, low-marketed films the opportunity to premier at a world class venue with an audience of more than 20,000 people. Over the weekend, nine new films by Native American filmmakers were among those slated for premier at this international showcase of new independent films. What are the messages of these movies and where can you see them? Guests include award winning filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin of the Abenaki Nation and Shirley Chechoo. (Listen to other programs on media issues)

1/18/01: Transition in the White House (Listen in RealAudio…)
With the transition of power to George W. Bush, what can Native America expect from this new president? Some of his comments have ignited anger and fear concerning his views on the sovereignty of Indian Nations. Indeed, many groups are organizing protests of his inauguration day. But how can Indian leaders work with the new administration? And who will be the next Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, arguably the most powerful position in Indian Country? Guests include Joanne Chase, Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians. (Listen to other programs on election 2000.)

1/17/01: Clinton's Legacy with Native Americans (Listen in RealAudio…)
Bill Clinton campaigned heavily in Indian Country, gathering votes for both his election victories. During his presidency he even visited the Pine Ridge and Navajo reservations, the first sitting president to make such trips. But was it all just for great photo opportunities? Eight years after taking office, what sort of legacy is he leaving behind for Native America? What can he do in the last few days of his presidency for Native peoples? Will he free Leonard Peltier? Guests include Lynn Cutler, Senior Adviser for Indian Affairs to White House Chief of Staff.

1/15/01: Inhalant Abuse (Listen in RealAudio…)
First Nations in Canada are experiencing alarming problems with their youth sniffing gas and other toxic inhalants. And they are not alone. Native youth here in the states are also falling victim. A counter attack is being devised, but the clock is ticking. What is the underlying reason causing our youth to dull their minds? And what can be done to stop the huffing? Guests include Debra Dell, Director of the White Bison Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre of Saskatchewan.

1/11/01: Indigenous Legacies of Cuba (Listen in RealAudio…)
Columbus landed on the shores of Baracoa Bay more than 500 years ago, wreaking havoc and changing lifeways of Native peoples forevermore. Yet Cuba has still enjoyed a rich legacy of indigenous traditions, healing practices, ceremonies and songs. How can Native Americans foster better relations with Cubans? Joining the program live from Baracoa Bay, Cuba are Jose Barriero of Native Americas Journal and other Native herbalists. (Listen to other programs on international issues)

1/10/01: Tales of Wonder (Part II) (Listen in RealAudio…)
Native American winter stories have been told by acclaimed Cherokee/Powhatan storyteller and linguist Gregg Howard. He will have shared traditional Cherokee stories like Rabbit and the Bear, about the value of working together for the good of all; Little Turtle, a lesson about what happens when we try to be someone we're not; and The Ruby Necklace, an origin story of the first corn. Do you have a winter story you'd like to share with our listening audience?

1/9/01: Ute Land Return (Listen in RealAudio…)
In 1916 the U.S. Congress took away 85,000 acres of land from the Northern Ute tribe. Last month in a ceremony at tribal headquarters, the government had given it back. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson had signed an agreement that deeds this energy-rich strip of land back to the Utes. But part of the deal has been that the tribe will have to pay the government a 9-percent royalty from any oil and gas revenue. Has this been a sign the U.S. is seeking reconciliation with tribes? Guests include Larry Cesspooch, public relations director for the Northern Ute tribe. (Listen to other programs on land issues) (Listen to other programs on legal issues)

1/4/01: U.S. Climate Change Assessment (Listen in RealAudio…)
America's climate has been changing rapidly and scientists have been studying the potential consequences across the country. Native peoples have seen increasing drought, melting of the Arctic ice pack, water shortages, and outbreaks of Hantavirus due to unusual weather patterns. The U.S. government's report on national climate change has looked at what we can expect. Guests include Dr. Tony Socci, a climatologist with the Environmental Protection Agency. (Listen to other programs on environment.)

1/3/01: Wiring Native America (Listen in RealAudio…)
While most Americans have enjoyed access to telecommunications services and the Internet, many Native people have still been waiting for basic phone service. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has some new initiatives to increase telecommunications services for tribes. Meanwhile, the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation have been providing free public access computers and training to reservations. Guests include FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani. (Listen to other programs on media issues)

1/2/01: Current Events (Listen in RealAudio…)
As in previous years, we have brought you news and current events from Indian Country. The case of the missing Indian trust funds has all burners on high this winter. The School of the Americas has a different name, but will this military training center change its practices? And the reservation-wide ban on alcohol by the Yakama tribal council has been challenged by non-natives who reside within rez boundaries. (Listen to other current events from 2000 and 2001.)