American Indian Airwaves

Today on American Indian Airwaves, listeners will hear extensive update on why 31st Anniversary of the Beginning of the War Against Oblivion, the armed uprising of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) on January 1st, 1994, against the colonial state of Mexico and global capitalism, was placed on hold.

On January 1st, 1994, the Mayan peoples’ traditional homelands were recovered after the 12-day armed uprising of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) against state violence and a legacy of settler colonial oppression. The EZLN’s actions are concrete evidence of how Zapatismo in Chiapas has improved the living conditions of the communities based on organization, autonomy, and self-determination.

Tune in to hear about how the systemic and increased organized crime violence is having on Indigenous peoples throughout Chiapas, MX. Also, listeners will hear a recap of the major 2024 events for Indigenous peoples throughout the settler colonial state of Mexico such as the 50th anniversary of the important 1974 Indigenous Congress in Chiapas, convened by the late Bishop Samuel Ruiz, whose 100th birthday would have been in 2024. Moreover, hear about the 2024 elections such as with the MORENA party reelected by a landslide; and how Claudia Sheinbaum replaces AMLO, cementing MORENA monopoly on power and what that means for Indigenous and Mayan peoples. The MORENA party corruption means more extractive industry expansion, displacement of Indigenous peoples without free, prior, and informed consent, and the violent repression of Indigenous protests and resistance against megaprojects, plus more.

Guest:

• Richard Stahler-Sholk, a retired Professor of Political Science at Eastern Michigan University, and community activist involved with the School of Chiapas which is an organization of grassroots activists and communities working to support the autonomous, indigenous Zapatista communities of Chiapas, Mexico. Schools for Chiapas was created the mid-1990’s by individuals searching for ways to make the world a better place and working to create a world where all worlds fit.

Archived programs can be heard on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp

American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd, iHeart Media, Mixcloud, Player.fm, Podbay.fm, Podcast Republic, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tunein, YouTube, and more.

December 29th of every year marks another anniversary of the Wound Knee Massacre of 1890, and the Occupation of Wounded Knee occurred from 02/27/1973 to 05/08/1973. The Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 is the result of the United States (U.S.) 7th Calvary stopping Miniconjou and Lakota Ghost Dancers and community members from returning home to Pine Ridge in what is presently known as South Dakota. The Wounded Knee Massacre took place near the Wounded Knee Creek during a time when the United States government essentially banned all Native American cultural traditions, ceremonies, and “religious” practices. Shortly thereafter the initial encounter, a scuffle ensued which resulted in the U.S. 7th Calvary open firing and killing over three hundred Indigenous women, children, and men.

The Occupation of Wounded Knee from 02/27/1973 to 05/08/1973 is the outcome of over 200 members of the American Indian Movement (A.I.M.) and supporters occupying Wounded Knee (Lakota Nation) in response to a call to action from traditional Lakota residents who’s civil, human, and treaty rights were constantly being violated by corrupt Indigenous and United States government officials. The Wound Knee Occupation resulted in a 67-day military standoff with U.S. government officials and quickly drew international and domestic support from people, organizations, and foreign governments throughout the world.

Today’s show on American Indian Airwaves is comprised of sound from two principal sources: The Pacifica Radio archives and the documentary A Tattoo on My Heart: The Warriors of Wounded Knee 1973. The Pacifica Radio Archives include original reports from Pacifica’s-affiliate station, KPFA in Berkeley, CA which covered live the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation. In addition, sound from the documentary A Tattoo on My Heart: The Warriors of Wounded Knee 1973 includes reflective testimonies of the Wound Knee Indigenous activist such as Lenny Foster, Bill Means, Madonna Thunderhawk, and narrated by the late Floyd “Red Crow” Westerman, plus more.

American Indian Airwaves regularly broadcast every Thursday 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 (Sundays 11am-12pm); FM 90.7 FM in Oregon on KBOO; and on the Internet at: www.kpfk.org.

Archived programs can be heard on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp

American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd, iHeart Media, Player.fm, Podbay.fm, Podcast Republic, SoundCloud, Spotify, Stitcher, Tunein, YouTube, and more.

John Kush has been a part of the Chumash community's ongoing expression of unique art and culture since his early childhood. Our guest lives and works within the Chumash ancestral homelands as personal and professional artists and previously worked on several important projects for the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC). Our guest’s artistic legacy spans decades and he joins for the hour to discuss the forthcoming, international indigenous exhibit: Decolonize Native Art (D.N.A.). which comprises of Indigenous artists across Turtle Island who express what decolonization means through their “art” and more. Tune in to hear about the D.N.A. exhibit, Chumash history and contemporary struggles and more.

Guest:

o John Kush (Chumash Nation) is the principal organizer for the upcoming Decolonize Native Art (DNA), which is being held at the Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop, 631 Garden Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, from 12/13/2024-12/18/2024.

Archived AIA programs are on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp

American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd, iHeart Media, Mixcloud, Player.fm, Podbay.fm, Podcast Republic, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tunein, YouTube, and more.

Since President Abraham Lincoln established observing the Thanksgiving Day holiday in 1863 to heal a fractured country amid the American Civil War (1861-1865). Consequentially, Americans for generations have believed in and centralized their national identity within several mythologies, including the propaganda surrounding the purported first thanksgiving between the Wampanoags and the pilgrims.

Today on American Indian Airwaves, our guest from the Aquinnah Wampanoag nation joins us for the entire hour to discuss in-depth the origins of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday, the settler colonial perpetrators of violence and fabrication regarding this mythology that traces back to 1620s, the National Day of Mourning, the censorship of Frank “Wamsutta” Jame’s speech in 1970 for the 350th Anniversary of the Mayflower’s landing, who are the Wampanoag peoples along with their cultural and traditional practices, and more.

Guest:

o Linda Coombs (Aquinnah Wampanoag) is an author and historian from the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, and lives in the Wampanoag community of Mashpee on Cape Cod, MA. In addition, our guest worked for over 30 years in the Wampanoag Indigenous Program (WIP) of Plimoth Plantation, including 15 years as the WIP’s Associate Director; and worked 9 years at the Aquinnah Cultural Center. She is the recent author of the remarkable book: Colonization and the Wampanoag Story (2023)

Archived AIA programs are on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp

American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd, iHeart Media, Mixcloud, Player.fm, Podbay.fm, Podcast Republic, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tunein, YouTube, and more.

On Indigenous Peoples Day in October 2024, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) designated the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off the California coast. The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary makes it America’s 17th national marine sanctuary, the sixth off the U.S. West Coast, and it is considered one of the largest in the National Marine Sanctuary System. The sanctuary encompasses 4,543 square miles of Central California’s coastal and ocean waters, providing protection to nationally significant natural, cultural, and historical resources while bringing new opportunities for research, community engagement, and education and outreach activities.

While much of the settler colonial and some Indigenous media treated the designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary as beneficial for the Chumash Nation and Mother Earth, there are larger questions about the true origins of the proposed Chumash Maritime Sanctuary along with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) process of adhering to all bands of Chumash nations free, prior, and informed consent international rights, and the failed mechanisms within between different Chumash bands and the NOAA, plus more. Today on American Indian Airwaves we address all these questions with our guests who combined with themselves and their ancestors have decades of living experiences protecting their cultural and traditional practices while simultaneous resisting settler colonial violence.

Guest:

o Micheal Khus-Zarate (Chumash), Board Member of the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation and Marcus Lopez (Barbareño band of the Chumash Nation), co-host and executive producer of American Indian Airwaves.

On October 25th, 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden formally apologized to Native Americans for the “sin” of a government-run boarding school system that for decades forcibly separated children from their parents, calling it a “blot on American history” in his first presidential visit to Indian Country.

At least 973 Native American children died in the U.S. government’s abusive boarding school system over a 150-year period that ended in 1969, according to an Interior Department investigation that called for a U.S. government apology. At least 18,000 children, some as young as 4, were taken from their parents and forced to attend schools that sought to assimilate them. There were more than 523 U.S. government-funded, and often church-run, boarding schools between 1869 and 1969. Children between the ages of 6 to 16 were not only taken from their parents, communities, and nations, but also, they were forced to compulsory education.

The U.S. government purposes of the operating the boarding schools was to erase Native American identities and strip them of them cultures and ultimately eradicate them as The Peoples. Native American children were forced to endure American militarization by having their cut and wear military-style clothing, they were given anglicized names – often Christian names and former president names; In fact, Native American children forced to learn Christianity and basic male and female labor skills.

During the early boarding school era, all cultural practices and languages were banned and punishment followed if caught. Native American children were starved to control them; they faced disease (e.g., tuberculosis, mumps, etc.) which led to being placed into the infirmary and isolation until death; they were tortured, worked as forced labor, and often experienced pedophilia, sexual abuse, psychological and physical abuse and death at the hands U.S. government agents. The United States Board School system was designed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by killing them as The Peoples. More than 140 different Native Americans nations alone were negatively impacted by 1918, and our guest recently authored a statement in response to U.S. Government’s apology for its violent legacy of operating Native American boarding school.

Today on American Indian Airwaves, Marcus Lopez from the Barbareño Band of the Chumash Nation, and co-host and executive producer of AIA, along with myself have the honor and pleasure to speak with Chris Peters from the Puhlik-lah/Karuk nations. He is a long-time, activist, community organizer, elder, cultural bearer, and President of the 7th Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, Inc. Chris has more than 50 years of experience in grassroots community organizing with his work focusing on climate change, sacred sites protection, and the renaissance of sacred knowledge and Earth Renewal ceremonies of Northern California Tribal Peoples. We have in-depth conversations with Chris Peters on his recently authored statement on the U.S. Presidential apology regarding the violent settler colonial legacy of U.S. government Native American boarding schools, plus more.

Guest:

o Chris Peters (Puhlik-lah/Karuk Nations), activist, community organizer, elder, cultural bearer, and President of the 7th Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, Inc. Chris has more than 50 years of experience in grassroots community organizing with his work focusing on climate change, sacred sites protection, and the renaissance of sacred knowledge and Earth Renewal ceremonies of Northern California Tribal Peoples.

Archived AIA programs are on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp

American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd, iHeart Media, Mixcloud, Player.fm, Podbay.fm, Podcast Republic, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tunein, YouTube, and more.

The idea of Indigenous Peoples Day originated in 1977, in Geneva, at the first International NGO Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the America. The conference was attended by Indigenous peoples throughout world and by the conclusion of the conference, a list of recommendations was drafted, outlining a course of action to support Indigenous peoples right to self-determination, a formal rebuttal was declared to Doctrine of Discovery or Dominion, and Indigenous peoples stated their intention “to observe October 12, the day of so-called ‘discovery’ of America, as an International Day of Solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.”

Thereafter in the United States, cities and states started observing Indigenous Peoples Day including for example, in 1989 South Dakota adopted Native American Day; on 10/22/91, the Berkely, CA city council adopts Indigenous Peoples Day. In the City of Los Angeles, CA, the city council declared the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples Day and in 2019, CA Governor Gavin Newsom declared Indigenous Peoples’ Day a California holiday.

To date, it is estimated that a little over 150 cities celebrate or observe Indigenous Peoples Day out of 19,502 incorporated cities, towns, and villages in the United States. Presumably, in cities with large or semi-large Native American/Indigenous communities. At the state level, 28 states observe Indigenous Peoples Day, but only three states, Maine, Nebraska, and New Mexico deem it a state holiday. The Washington DC district also considers it a holiday.

At the federal level, in October 2021, President Biden designated the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day and The Indigenous Peoples’ Day Act (SB 2970) which if passed would replace Columbus Day as a federal holiday and designate the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day was introduced in Congress in 2021 and reintroduced in Congress in 2023 with no traction since then.

As of 2024, for the few cities and states that observe Indigenous Peoples Day with celebrations, they still acknowledge Columbus Day as the default, often, paid holiday. There are many contradictions to celebrating and participating in Indigenous People Day celebrations at the city and state levels and today on American Indian Airwaves we have a round-table discussion on what is Indigenous Peoples Day? Our discussion panel includes Fidel Rodriguez of Chumash Nation and host of the former KPFK Divine Forces Radio and Marcus Lopez, of Barberieno band of the Chumash Nation and executive producer and host American Indian Airwaves, and me. We begin today’s program with the question of what Indigenous Peoples Day mean to you with Marcus Lopez first and followed by Fidel Rodriguez second. And the now the Contradictions of Indigenous Peoples Day here on American Indian Airwaves.

Guests:

o Marcus Lopez, (Barbareño Band of the Chumash Nation), executive producer of American Indian Airwaves, Fidel Rodriquez (Chumash Nation) and former host of KPFK’s Divine Forces Radio, and Larry Smith (Lumbee Nation).

Archived AIA programs are on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp

American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd,

As of September 10th, 2024 (Tuesdays), estimates are that the 2024 fires have burned 2,247,356 acres with seventy-one (71) large active fires presently active across Turtle Island (the United States) such as in the politically defined borders of California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming. In California alone, there are approximately more than twenty (20) active fires and thousands of people are currently under mandatory evacuation orders in numerous counties such as Lake County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and within the foothills of the Los Angeles National Forest.

Today on American Indian Airwaves our guest discusses the 2024 fires impact on California Indigenous peoples, nations, and their homelands; how the historical and contemporary legacies of settler colonial violence contributes to the present form of the climate crises, how Indigenous relations and cultural sustainability for future generations face insurmountable and compounded risks provided the perpetrators and collaborators of the climate crises maintain their violent behaviors and operations, and how traditional forms of Indigenous fire-management practices are not only different compared to common United States fire management practices, but also with Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), Indigenous Stewardship (IS), along with climate resilience through ecocultural stewardship, new possibilities for reindigenizing Mother Earth, centering and balancing the trajectory for cultural sustainability, and healing are tenable. In fact, many Native American nations, organizations, and communities within the state of California are already performing the hard work of Indigenous Stewardship while facing settler colonial obstacles, yet they provide direction for the future. All this and more is covered on today’s episode of American Indian Airwaves.

Guests:

o Don Hankins (Miwok Nation), Professor of Geography and Planning at California State University, Chico State, co-founder of the Indigenous Stewardship Network (https://www.indigenousstewardship.org), and author and contributing author of numerous publications such as “Climate Resilience through Ecocultural Stewardship” (2024), and “Realignment of Federal Environmental Policies to Recognize Fire’s Role” (2024).

Archived AIA programs are on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp

American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd, iHeart Media, Mixcloud, Player.fm, Podbay.fm, Podcast Republic, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tunein, YouTube, and more

“Southern Alaska Native Nations’ Intervention: Stopping the Extractive Mining Industry from Maiming and Extinguishing Life”

Today on American Indian Airwaves, we go to southeast Alaska and British Colombia (B.C.), Canada, to discuss the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission (SEITC), which consists of 15 Indigenous nations in southeast Alaska and rooted along Canada’s transboundary rivers, recent submission of a formal request with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a legal organization that is part of the Organization of American States (OAS), to halt the protracted and reckless mining activities that are violating Indigenous peoples human rights throughout the region.

Dozens of mining companies are seeking permission from the British Columbia (B.C.) government to develop some of the world’s largest gold mines in the headwaters of Southeast Alaska’s transboundary rivers, and the Canadian government continues denying the sovereign rights of the Alaskan Native nations living downstream from the extractive mining activities. In fact, a recent decision, ordered by Canada’s Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship on June 27th, 2024, could guarantee the destruction of both a critical ecological hotspot and the ways of life of the Southeast Alaska nations. For example, Skeena Resources Limited (“Skeena”) proposed in 2021 a major gold and silver mining project called The Eskay Creek Project. It is one of eight mines in B.C. that are at issue, but the Esky Project, which is in the final environmental review state, and if built, would produce an estimated 7.5 million tons of gold and silver over an estimated 14-year mine life span and the project would be in the same area as a previous mine that operated from 1994-2008. Lastly, the Esky Creek Project risk southern Alaska Native nations, rivers including the Unuk, Stikine, and Taku, five species of wild Pacific salmon, and more traditional lifeways with possible extinction if left unheeded.

Guests:

Guy Archibald, Executive Director, of the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission (www.seitc.org). Guy is an analytical environmental chemist and microbiologist with over 20 years of experience. He works to utilize western science and apply traditional knowledge and practices to protect the various communities, the forest, salmon, trees, and people.

Esther Reese is Eagle Tsaagweidí (Killerwhale) from Ḵéex̱ʼ Kwáan (Kake), Alaska. She is President of the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission (www.seitc.org), and serves as the Tribal Administrator for the Wrangell Cooperative Association, the federally recognized Tribe in Wrangell, an Alaska Native nation at the mouth of the Stikine River.

Archived AIA programs are on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp

American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd, iHeart Media, Mixcloud, Player.fm, Podbay.fm, Podcast Republic, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tunein, YouTube, and more.

“Sacred Stage: Talks with Native Playwrights and Artists with DeLanna Studi & the 30th Anniversary of Native Voices at the Autry”

2024 marks the 30th Anniversary for the Native Voices at the Autry, the only Equity Theatre in the country developing and producing plays written by Native American playwrights. Since Native Voices inception, many aspiring, working, and veteran Native American playwrights, artists, and actors/actresses have benefited from having this invaluable program and resources the Autry provides for assisting Native American storyteller and storying in various forms. Located in Los Angeles County, CA, Native Voices at the Autry celebrates its accomplishments and recent partnership with the Generation Now Theater Partnership, which is comprised of BIPOC artists presently creating new artistic creations targeting multigenerational audiences. Our guest for today, joins us for the hour to discuss the 30th Anniversary of Native Voices at the Autry and its continuing legacy for providing Native American artists and aspiring artists a space in theater and the arts as well as to the multi coalition Generation Now Theater Partnership project, the importance of Native American storytelling, upcoming Native American plays and projects, plus more. Click on the titles for more information on the Autry Museum of the West, Native Voices, and upcoming Autry events.

Guest:

DeLanna Studi (Cherokee Nation) is an accomplished performer, storyteller, playwright, and activist for over 25 years. Some of her theater credits include the First National Broadway Tour of Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning play August: Osage County, Off-Broadway’s Gloria: A Life (Daryl Roth Theatre), Informed Consent (Duke Theater on 42nd Street).In addition, DeLanna originated roles in over thirty World Premieres, including writing and performing in And So We Walked: An Artist’s Journey Along the Trail of Tears where she retraced her family’s footsteps along the Trail of Tears with her father.

Her film and television contributions extend more than 20 years, and, in fact, DeLanna starred in the Peabody Award winning Edge of America, Hallmark’s Dreamkeeper, Goliath, Shameless, General Hospital, Disney + Launchpad: The Roof, and Reservation Dogs to name just a few. She has served as a cultural liaison for theatre, film, and television, most recently the television series La Brea. Our guest has also been the chair of the SAG-AFTRA National Native Americans Committee since 2007 and she presently is the Artistic Director of Native Voices at the Autry, the only Equity Theatre in the country developing and producing plays written by Native American playwrights.

Archived AIA programs are on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp

American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd, iHeart Media, Mixcloud, Player.fm, Podbay.fm, Podcast Republic, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tunein, YouTube, and more.