Native America Calling

Heid Erdrich’s (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe) latest book of poetry, “Big Little Bully” won a National Poetry Series Award. Ms. Magazine says the collection is written “in her characteristic voice: fierce, witty, personal and political.” Erdrich told Publisher’s Weekly that, after a drought, Native poetry is seeing a resurgence thanks to efforts to bring new voices into the spotlight. Also, Erdrich’s talents extend beyond poetry. She writes plays, curates art exhibits, and collaborates with dance troupes. We’ll hear about her newest poetry collection and discuss her rich portfolio of artistic endeavors.

11-27-20 November in the news by Native Voice One

(Encore show; we aren’t taking live calls) Over the years Keith Secola, creator of the song “NDN Kars,” has brought a lot to our Native communities with his creativity and voice. We take time to check in with this Anishinabe artist and learn about his latest creations including the podcast project, Native Americana Audio Café, where he visits with musicians, artists and others. We’ll find out how music is taking him through these times, and get to the roots of where his love of music began.

It’s been four centuries since the Pilgrims stepped off the Mayflower onto the shores of present day Massachusetts. The white, Christian Europeans established a colony at Plymouth and the rest is history. But it’s a one-sided history that too often omits the Indigenous experience outside of a revisionist Thanksgiving story. This year, the Plymouth, Massachusetts 400th Anniversary Commission is commemorating the shared history among the Wampanoag tribes and settlers. It’s an inclusive celebration with Wampanoag perspectives. We’ll look at how representation of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower has changed over the years and what perspectives still need to be voiced.

In Native languages, some of our favorite words and phrases pack much more meaning than any English translation can encompass. The Navajo word, “hózhó” refers to a way of life; balance, harmony and order. As the country marks Native American Heritage Month and 30 years of the Native American Languages Act, ensuring tribes’ use of their languages without any government interference, we’ll honor the importance of language and celebrate with some of the most notable words and phrases.

North Dakota reached the highest COVID-19 fatality rate per capita in the world, according to the Federation of American Scientists. South Dakota, Wisconsin and Montana are all in the top 20 highest COVID-19 death rates. Infection rates all over the country are spiking and tribes are reissuing strict shutdown orders aiming to slow down the spread. We’ll get insights from tribal leaders and health officials about their hopes for fighting the new deadly wave of the pandemic.

Bluedog is not only a family affair but a group that prides itself on sharing the life experiences of Native people through sound. In their new album “Take a Stand” the blues riffs are solid and the vocals are inviting. This time around the blues band out of Minnesota's Twin Cities has teamed up with guest musicians including Ojibwe recording artist Keith Secola. We’ll hear more from the band about keeping the legacy of Native blues strong.

Those struggling with addiction are at greater risk for contracting COVID-19 according to a recent study from the National Institutes of Health. In Native communities, public health officials are working to reduce those risks with a harm reduction approach. Harm reduction involves supporting individuals struggling with addiction, not punishing them. It can involve providing clean needles for intravenous drug users or arming the community with the overdose-reversing drug, Naloxone. We’ll talk with public health experts advocating for harm reduction as a way to offset the added risks the pandemic poses for addicts.

The annual celebration is about more than just what Native people traditionally wear on their feet. Started in 2011 as a way to show Native pride, Rock Your Mocs has grown into a multi-day collection of events and discussions. We’ll get perspectives on how people in many nations are marking the celebration of traditional culture.

When CNN aired a graphic with racial breakdowns of voters, it included a category called “Something Else” for those not under the white, Black, Latino or Asian labels. Native Americans were quick to respond with sharp criticism that spread across social media. The Native American Journalists Association called for an apology from the media network. “Something Else” also speaks to the pervasive exclusion of Indigenous people in polls and research. In this program, we’ll talk about how being in a “Something Else” category affects Indigenous voices and experiences.