Let's Talk Native with John Kane

COVID-19 is clearly a deadly disease but it is particularly deadly to those with pre-existing underlying medical conditions. COVID-19 brought an immediate concern to those who could otherwise see their conditions as something with limited present day consequences even if they had dire long term impacts. Can the takeaway from this pandemic be that we better prepare ourselves for the re-occurrence of this one or the next by improving our life choices for better health?

We open with some Covid-19 numbers and then look back at all the heinous acts committed in the name of the Church. Some say those were not acts committed by true Christians but perhaps the history of violent crimes is true to the church. Perhaps it's the righteous who have been duped.

After only one month of social distancing and staying at home Americans are mad as Hell and won't take it any longer! Protests in over a dozen states calling for the end of state shutdowns of the economy carry on for three days with more planned for next week. Meanwhile, the people on Native territories are calling for MORE shutdowns as outside access is limited or shutdown completely.

The problem with "flattening the curve" is that it fattens the curve as well. That means while the effort to slow the rate of infections may lower the infections per day, that same effort by design extends the infection period. Flattening the top of the curve fattens the base of the curve. This will be around for months!

John goes over some numbers and challenges what they really mean. Two confirmed cases on Seneca territories and a conflict over NFTA buses and who is welcome on Seneca land and who isn't.

Desiree Kane joins John from Colorado to discuss her Rent Strike and Eviction Defense work. Get to know Desiree and catch our conversation on COVID-19, capitalism, Native resistance and more.

We start with a short Covid-19 update but then delve into parsing out authority and power from responsibility and service. Language and centuries of assimilation leave us struggling to reason what's our and what's not.

Racism seems to be immune to COVID-19. At times of crisis, it's nice to think that people can come together and drop their prejudices. But sometimes lines get drawn between us and we imagine enemies where there are none; until we create them.

Updating the numbers on cases, deaths and spread of COVID-19. I discuss the impacts back home and the battles that continue in spite of a global pandemic.

Group worship versus home alone? "Social Distancing" has closed churches, synagogues and mosques. What about Longhouses? Does your religion "require" group worship? Is "Longhouse" a religion? Must ceremonies continue during a pandemic?