American Indian Airwaves

December 29th of this year marks the 131st memorial and remembrance of the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 where the United States Calvary followed several ghost dancers and community members to Wounded Knee, opened-fired, and killed over 300 indigenous men, women and children.

More than 80 later, the struggle continued at Wounded Knee from February 27th, 1973 to May 8th, 1973 when over 200 members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and their supporters occupied Wounded Knee at Pine Ridge, Lakota Nation (South Dakota) in a sixty-seven day standoff which resulted in a negotiated settlement between both sides. AIM and their supporters came to the assistance of traditionalist who were struggling against "elected" chairman Richard "Dickie" Wilson, whose administration along with support of the United States government, was rife with corruption, nepotism, and violence.

Join us for a one-hour special with exclusive sound from Pacifica's archives on the initial coverage of the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee and exclusive sound from "'A Tattoo On My Heart: The Warriors of Wounded Knee 1973."

Valentin Lopez, Amah Mutsun Nation, is Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Nation, one of three historic California Indigenous Nations that are recognized as Ohlone. Valentin is Mutsun, Awaswas, Chumash and Yokuts (http://amahmutsun.org/governance/tribal-council) and he joins us for the entire program to discuss what California Governor Newsom’s Executive Order #1519 (https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/6.18.19-Executive-Order.pdf), a soft public apology “on behalf of California to California Native American Peoples for the many instances of violence, mistreatment and neglect inflicted upon California Native Americans throughout the state’s history” means to California Indigenous peoples and their respective First Nations. Valentin covers numerous perspectives including the State of California’s public apology from a non-federally recognized California Indigenous Nation perspective as well as how non-federally recognized California Indigenous Nations are excluded, what the Truth and Healing Council means, what does truth and healing actually means, why the Amah Mutsun formally rejected the Gov. Newsom apology, how the COVID-19 Pandemic is impacting the Amah Mutsun Nation, plus a lot more.

Today on American Indian Airwaves we hear from two distinguished Indigenous elders on the National Day of Mourning first established in 1970. Both guest, Georgianna Sanchez (Chumash Nation), elder, cultural bearer, and scholar; and George “Tink” Tinker (Osage Nation), elder, cultural bearer, and scholar at the Iliff School of Theology, address the National Day of Mourning, what the settler colonial violent holiday, Thanksgiving Day, means to them, and what are Indigenous peoples’ understandings and comprehension surrounding this time of the year.

History of National Day of Mourning

The National Day of Mourning reminds us all that Thanksgiving is only part of the story. Native Americans, since 1970, have gathered at noon on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving Day.

Pilgrims landed in Plymouth and established the first colony in 1620. As such, it’s the oldest municipality in New England. Many Native Americans, however, don’t celebrate the arrival of the Pilgrims and other European settlers. Thanksgiving, to them, is a brutal reminder of “the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the relentless assault on Native culture.”

They participate as a way to honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. “It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well as a protest of the racism and oppression which Native Americans continue to experience.”

The United American Indians of New England (UAINE) sponsors this event. They maintain that the Pilgrims arrived in North America and claimed tribal land for their own, as opposed to establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with the local inhabitants. UAINE members believe that these settlers “introduced sexism, racism, anti-homosexual bigotry, jails, and the class system.”

The National Day of Mourning generally begins at noon and includes a march through the historic district of Plymouth. While the UAINE encourages people of all backgrounds to attend the protests, only Native speakers are invited to give these speeches about the past, as well as current obstacles their people have overcome. Guests are asked to bring non-alcoholic beverages, desserts, fresh fruits and vegetables, or pre-cooked items. The protest is open to anyone, and has attracted other minority activists.

American Indian Airwaves regularly broadcast Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm (PCT) on KPFK FM 90.7 in Los Angeles, CA; FM 98.7 in Santa Barbara, CA; FM 99.5 in China Lake, CA; FM 93.7 in North San Diego, CA; FM 99.1 KLBP in Long Beach, CA (Tuesdays, 11am-12pm); and WCRS FM 98.3/102.1 in Columbus, OH.

Click here for archived American Indian Airwaves programs on the KPFK website within the past 60-days only or click on (below) after 8pm for today’s scheduled program.

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Parts 1 and 2:

From the majestic peaks of the snow-capped Sierras to the parched valley of Payahuunadü, “the land of flowing water,” (Owens Valley, CA) Manzanar Diverted: When Water Become Dust is a brand new film recounting more than 150 years of history, showing how Payahuunadu (Owens Valley, CA) is tied to the city of Los Angeles and how the forced removals of two peoples -the Nüümü (Paiute) and the Newe (Shoshone) who were marched out of the Valley in the 1860s and the Japanese Americans who were forcibly brought to Manzanar from their West Coast homes and incarcerated in a World War II concentration camp are intergenerationally connected. In addition, the film’s central character is piyah (water) and the film’s narrative weaves the intergenerational telling of settler colonialism violence, stolen waters from the Nüümü (Paiute) and the Newe (Shoshone) nations, cultural genocide, and more given the severe drought impacting Mother Earth and all that she provides. Payahuunadu (Owens Valley, CA) is beginning point of the Los Angeles Aqueduct that channels water to Los Angelenos. Tune in for this and more. There are several free, public screening of the film, including on 11/4/2021 at the Los Angeles Historic State Park in the traditional territories of the Tongva/Gabrielino nations. For more information and registering for attendance, click here.

Guest:

• Kathy Bancroft (Nüümü [Paiute] Nation), and Anne Kaneko, director and producer of Manzanar Diverted: When Water Become Dust, joins us for the entire hour to provide listeners an critical and in-depth and intergenerational history of water in relationship to the Nüümü (Paiute) and the Newe (Shoshone) nation, Japanese Americans incarcerated at Manzanar, the City of Los Angeles, and the importance of water as life.

American Indian Airwaves regularly broadcast Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm (PCT) on KPFK FM 90.7 in Los Angeles, CA; FM 98.7 in Santa Barbara, CA; FM 99.5 in China Lake, CA; FM 93.7 in North San Diego, CA; FM 99.1 KLBP in Long Beach, CA (Tuesdays, 11am-12pm); and WCRS FM 98.3/102.1 in Columbus, OH.

Click here for archived American Indian Airwaves programs on the KPFK website within the past 60-days only or click on (below) after 8pm for today’s scheduled program.

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Part 1:

In 2015 the United States congress passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included the rider: The Southeastern Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act 2014 (“Act”). The “Act” will grant Resolution Copper, a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP, the 2,200 acres located in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona. If Resolution Copper succeeds in completing the land transfer, they will build one of the largest open ore and copper mining pits in the world, leaving once completed, a 1,000 foot-deep crater over 2 miles across. Chi’chil Bildagoteel (Oak Flat) is an active, cultural sacred site to the N’dee (San Carlos Apache Nation) and surround Native American nations.

The Apache Stronghold has been and continues leading the struggle to protect and save Oak Flat for future generations. They are presently on a Spiritual Convoy from the Apache Nation to San Francisco, CA for the 9th Circuit hearing where they are seeking an injunction to prevent the land exchange of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper. Turn in for this, what people can do to help, plus more.

Guest:

• Lian Bighorse and Vanessa Nosie (San Carlos Apache Nation citizens), Apache Stronghold, joins us for the entire hour to provide listeners an update on the struggle over Oak Flat, the Spiritual Convoy from back home to San Francisco, CA, the Apache Stronghold v. U.S court case, and protecting Mother Earth.

American Indian Airwaves regularly broadcast Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm (PCT) on KPFK FM 90.7 in Los Angeles, CA; FM 98.7 in Santa Barbara, CA; FM 99.5 in China Lake, CA; FM 93.7 in North San Diego, CA; FM 99.1 KLBP in Long Beach, CA (Tuesdays, 11am-12pm); and WCRS FM 98.3/102.1 in Columbus, OH.

Click here for archived American Indian Airwaves programs on the KPFK website within the past 60-days only or click on (below) after 8pm for today’s scheduled program.

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Part 1:

United States President Biden recently, simultaneously, and problematically signed to the Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day Proclamations. While Columbus Day is also a form of state-sponsored hate speech, acknowledging Indigenous peoples in the same breath is questionably troublesome. Has the settler colonial attention and support of Indigenous Peoples Day resulted in more performative gestures in the politics of inclusion? Meanwhile, Indigenous communities and nations remained highly under resourced.

Approximately, one out every four Native Americans are considered “disabled,” according to the United States Census Bureau. Within the context of Indigenous justice movements, how does disability justice intersect with Indigenous and environmental justice work?

Guest:

• Jen Deerinwater (is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, bisexual, Two Spirit, multiply-disabled journalist, speaker and organizer who covers the issues hir communities face with an intersectional lens. She’s a contributor at Truthout and founding executive director of Crushing Colonialism. Jen is the co-editor of Sacred and Subversive and hir work is included in the anthologies Disability Visibility and Two-Spirits Belong Here.

American Indian Airwaves regularly broadcast Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm (PCT) on KPFK FM 90.7 in Los Angeles, CA; FM 98.7 in Santa Barbara, CA; FM 99.5 in China Lake, CA; FM 93.7 in North San Diego, CA; FM 99.1 KLBP in Long Beach, CA (Tuesdays, 11am-12pm); and WCRS FM 98.3/102.1 in Columbus, OH.

Click here for archived American Indian Airwaves programs on the KPFK website within the past 60-days only or click on (below) after 8pm for today’s scheduled program.

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Part 1:

The California State Parks is currently seeking public feedback on a proposal to change the name of Patrick’s Point State Park in Humboldt County to Sue-meg State Park, the original place name for the area by the Yurok peoples since time immemorial. Patrick’s Point State Park was acquired by the California State Parks in 1930 with the place name of Patrick’s Point already in use, dating back to the mid-1800s in reference to a homesteader, Patrick Beegan, a notorious and complicit person in the genocide of the Indigenous peoples of, now, northern California. Patrick’s Point State Park is located within the ancestral lands of the Yurok people on the northern coast of California in Humboldt County, 26 miles north of Eureka and 46 miles south of Crescent City

The California State Park and Recreation Commission has jurisdiction over the naming of units of the State Parks System. California State Parks is recommending that the Commission approve the changing of Patrick’s Point State Park name to Sue-meg State Park at the Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, meeting. Public feedback on this potential name change will be accepted by COB Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. Written comments may be emailed to [email protected] with the words “Patrick’s Point Name Change” in the subject line.

Guest:

• Chris Peters (Puhlik-lah/Karuk Nations), president of the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, joins us for the first segment to discuss the history of land, its violent colonial legacy, and the significance of calling to action the reclaiming and renaming of Patrick’s Point State Park Sue-meg State Park.

Part 2:

Anahuacalmecac International University is the only Indigenous school in Los Angeles County that has been providing Indigenous education for over twenty years. Despite a violent legacy of Native Americans public school educational experiences, from facing systemic forms of racism ranging disproportionate discipline actions against Native American students to harmful and offensive public-school curriculum, Anahuacalmecac International University continues to provide Indigenous students a sanctuary for learning. Our guest for today, discuss the schools progress over the years and its new American Indian Resurgence Initiative and how it will benefit Indigenous students and parents in providing a more enriching, safe, and dynamic equivalent high school education. https://ndgnsla.org/.

Guest:

• Marcos Aguilar, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Academia Semillas del Pueblo and Head of the School at Anahuacalmecac International University in Los Angeles County, CA.

“Sacred Stage: Talks with Native Playwrights and Artists” – an in-depth series of interviews with Indigenous activist, artist, actors/actresses, playwrights and more about their legacy work and how their activism intersects with Indigeneity and the contribution across and within Indigenous and non-Indigenous arts. Special Guest Co-Host for today is Albert “Abby” Ybarra (Yaqui Nation).

Guest:

Ryan Victor Pierce, "Opalanietet," is a member of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Nation of New Jersey. Upon graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Opalanietet has performed in workshops and productions at such renown New York theatrical institutions as New Dramatists, LaMaMa E.T.C. and New York City Opera at Lincoln Center.

In 2012, Opalanietet founded Eagle Project, a theater company dedicated to exploring the American identity through the performing arts and our Native American heritage, http://www.eagleprojectarts.org. Through his leadership, Eagle Project has collaborated with and performed at the Public Theater, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and Ashtar Theater in Palestine. In April of 2020, Eagle Project collaborated with the American Indian Community House of New York City and First Nations Theatre Guild to create Native Theatre Thursdays, a virtual reading series of new Native work.

Liko Martin and Laulani Teale (Hawaiian Nation). Liko Martin, Haku Mele, is one of Hawai’i’s renowned songwriters and activist; founder and co-founder of many Indigenous organizations; a farmer, fisherman, cultural practitioner, peacemaker and veteran; a Kupuna Advisor for Ho’opae Pono Peace Project, plus more. Laulani Teale is a musician, artist, cultural practitioner, public health practitioner, web/social media developer, and coordinator for the Ho’opae Pono Peace Project, plus more.

Liko Martin and Laulani Teale join us for this exclusive one-hour interview regarding protecting Mauna Kea, an Indigenous Hawaiian sacred site, from the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project – twenty stories high (below and above ground). Our guests provide an update on the United States National Science Foundation’s new and committed involvement in supporting the TMT project, its implications for the Indigenous peoples of Hawaii. In addition, our guests articulate how the TMT project if developed will result in the destruction and further desecration of Mauna Kea, a sacred site, the disastrous adversities suffered by all the flora and fauna relations as well as the profound amount of water pollution resulting from TMT project.

Our guests provide an update on some of the Kupuna’s court cases resulting from being arrested when defending Mauna Kea, how the Hawaiian state tourist industry is contributing to escalating COVID-19 rates, and the further usurpation, dispossession, theft, and pollution by the U.S. military in militarization Indigenous peoples’ traditional homelands.

The University of California along with the California Institute of Technology (Cal-Tech), the National Institutes of Natural Sciences of Japan, the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Department of Science and Technology of India, and the National Research Council (Canada); the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy are members of The TMT International Observatory LLC (TIO), the non-profit organization responsible for the TMT Project threatening Mauna Kea.

American Indian Airwaves regularly broadcast Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm (PCT) on KPFK FM 90.7 in Los Angeles, CA; FM 98.7 in Santa Barbara, CA; FM 99.5 in China Lake, CA; FM 93.7 in North San Diego, CA; FM 99.1 KLBP in Long Beach, CA (Tuesdays, 11am-12pm); and WCRS FM 98.3/102.1 in Columbus, OH.

Click here for archived American Indian Airwaves programs on the KPFK website within the past 60-days only or click on (below) after 8pm for today’s scheduled program.

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In Chiapas, Mexico, the territorial divisions between the major drug cartels have broken down resulting in open warfare which has spread to spread to Chiapas. Until recently, Chiapas has been relatively free from cartel violence. The criminal organizations have figured out that they can infiltrate municipal-level politics, run local candidates tolerating their operations, and heavily fund those campaigns (or intimidate or kill the other candidates), and gain control on the ground. The violence in the highland’s region of Chiapas around the communities of Chenalhó and Pantelhó is intense, with approximately 3,000 displaced indigenous (mostly Tsotsil) people. There has been very little media coverage due to the risk and fear of offending the cartels. In addition, the federal government has sent in its National Guard, which has done nothing to stop the criminal violence. Some indigenous peoples have formed their own self-defense militia group, El Machete. Turn in for more.

Guest:

Richard Stahler-Sholk, Professor of Political Science at Eastern Michigan University, joins us for this segment of the program to discuss how Mayan Indigenous peoples have been mobilizing and resisting the Mexican governments continuous military actions in stealing and dispossessing Mayan peoples lands throughout Chiapas and Jalisco as well as how Indigenous peoples are presently being denied a basic right to education, plus more.