The percentage of Americans wearing face masks as a way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is the lowest it’s been in two years. At the same time, a new subvariant of the virus is the likely cause behind a new surge in infections. While the vast majority of cities and states have dropped mask mandates in public places, many tribes remain wary and continue with safety measures beyond what their surrounding states have. We get updates on the second booster, BA.2 and long COVID, along with other updates on the evolving pandemic.

Spring often fuels the impulse to plant seeds in the ground and create a garden. Veteran Native gardeners have taken steps throughout the winter to prepare for the start of the growing season. There’s room at the vegetable patch for gardeners of all levels. And traditional knowledge has guidance on the right methods for your region.

Building effective systems where people live and work takes planning. And the Colonial-based planning methods that grew from a viewpoint of dispossessing Native people might not be the best starting point for sustainable and evolving Native places. We take a look at Indigenous community planning ideas and discuss the importance of including Indigenous voices and […]

A new program offers low-income people help paying their water bills. The federal Low Income Water Assistance Program has more than a billion dollars available to help keep people’s water utility from getting shut off. The money also could go toward helping individuals fix critical household water problems. We learn more about the program and […]

Leonard Peltier (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) has been in federal prison for 45 years for his role in the 1975 shooting deaths of two FBI agents in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. There is mounting momentum by the ailing 77-year-old Peltier’s supporters, calling for President Joe Biden to grant him clemency. Peltier has reportedly said […]

Edith Kanaka’ole (Kanaka Maoli) was an acclaimed composer, chanter, hula dancer and educator. Her work in Hawaiian cultural and language revitalization helped strengthen Indigenous Hawaiian culture, science, identity and sovereignty. Her image will be featured on U.S. quarter coins in 2023. We take this hour to learn more about the legacy of “Aunty” Edith Kanaka’ole. […]

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is promising reforms after a disproportionate number of inmates died while in custody in tribal detention facilities the bureau oversees. We find out what the agency plans and what an internal investigation found out about the deaths of at least 19 jail inmates stemming from what a report referred to […]

The apology from Pope Francis sought forgiveness for the role the Catholic Church played in the atrocities meted out in church-run residential schools in Canada. It was a message of contrition and healing for the century of abuses and cultural oppression, delivered to an audience that included First Nations, Inuit, and Metis representatives. But it […]

Remnants of more than 500 uranium mines on the Navajo Nation have been a threat to residents for decades. But on the horizon is the promise of jobs and economic development funded by corporate settlements and federal sources to clean up the tailings and other contaminated waste left behind. There are many details and concerns […]

Long before it became the inspiration to build what became Utah’s largest city, the Great Salt Lake was an important place for the Ute, Paiute, Goshute, and Shoshone nations among many others. Now, the lake is at half the volume it was just a few decades ago and it continues to shrink. Ongoing climate change […]