Native America Calling

The federal government is pouring billions of dollars into the effort to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus. At least four pharmaceutical companies say they are ready to conduct vaccine trials on human volunteers—a needed step before widespread distribution. Scientists emphasize the importance of testing the vaccine in diverse populations. Leaders of at least three tribes, the Navajo Nation, the Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe, agreed to allow vaccine trials involving their citizens. But many of those citizens harbor distrust of scientific experiments because of previous missteps.

The Bureau of Indian Education reversed an ambitious plan to open up BIE schools after criticism by tribal leaders. Also, officials with least three tribes signed up for COVID-19 vaccine trials, but some citizens remain wary. And the CEO of the company pushing a major mine proposal in Alaska stepped down after an environmental activist group secretly taped him saying the mine could grow to be much larger than what the company told federal regulators. We’ll talk with people involved in covering these stories and more are on our regular news round up.

We hear from Choctaw recording artists Samantha Crain about her album “A Small Death”. This self-produced venture is her sixth full-length album that explores the beauty of a layered life. To her, it’s about resetting and regrouping, two skills we call on especially when life deals cards that we don’t expect. The songs highlight her distinct sound, full of strong vocals and folk and rock rhythms. She’s a Native music icon and is our September Music Maker.

The deadline for all U.S. residents to fill out the 2020 Census is approaching fast. Census officials are scrambling to collect information on Native Americans in time. A last-minute court decision extended the deadline to the end of October. The Trump Administration sought to end Census data collection September 30. Census watchers still worry the coronavirus pandemic and other barriers will make it hard for Native Americans, traditionally one of the most undercounted populations in the Census, to be adequately represented. Billions of dollars and accurate political representation are at stake.

Tribal leaders in the Southwest are praising the successful return of items stolen from Mesa Verde almost 130 years ago. It’s the culmination of an agreement with Finland originally announced last year to repatriate ancestors and funerary items taken by a Finnish scholar in 1891. The incident helped spark establishment of the 1906 Antiquities Act and the establishment of Mesa Verde National Park. Leaders from the four tribes that have cultural affiliations with Mesa Verde worked with the U.S. State Department to return and reinter them this month. We’ll hear from tribal leaders about the significance of the items and what it took to have them returned.

“Becoming Miss Navajo” is a young readers’ book that shares the story of what it means to earn this esteemed title. The author writes the competition cannot be categorized as a beauty pageant. Instead she sees it as a way to revitalize Navajo cultural heritage. Begay-Kroupa tells her own personal journey and brings readers through the ins and outs of the yearly event. The book features photos that include parts of the competition that asks contestants to demonstrate cultural knowledge.

Gathering, processing and cooking indigenous nuts like acorns and pine nuts is in full swing in late summer and early autumn. These small gifts of protein and flavor are important to Indigenous culture. Picking and preparing them in the traditional way creates stronger connections to culture and nature and promotes a deeper understanding of food and flavor. We’ll talk about nuts with Native food educators and culture keepers.

Scientists have observed the disappearance of Arctic sea ice for decades. Indigenous people who live and hunt on and near the ice are forced to confront the changes in their environment and adapt where they can. A new study published in the journal, Nature Climate Change, predicts ice-free summers in the Arctic for the first time in recorded history far sooner than previous estimates. We’ll hear more about why the ice is melting and its effects on Indigenous people.

Advocates fear the coronavirus pandemic increases the risk for Native American women experiencing domestic violence. Quarantines and stay-at-home orders might make it difficult for women to get away from abusers. There are few studies that provide evidence but a survey by the United Nations reports increased calls to help lines in several cities around the globe since the start of the pandemic. A limited survey of radiologists in the U.S. shows an increase in injuries attributed to domestic violence in 2020 compared to the previous three years. We explore the factors that could contribute to the domestic violence risk and some possible solutions for those experiencing it.

The comic book giant, Marvel, is releasing a new anthology dedicated to Indigenous superheroes, all produced by Indigenous artists and writers. In addition to giving new story lines to names like Echo and Dani Moonstar, the project in the Marvel Voices series intends to correct some of the mistakes of previous non-Native led efforts that relied on offensive stereotypes and inauthentic character development. Jeffrey Veregge (Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe) curates the new volume set to coincide with Native American History Month. Veregge and others from the project will talk about the growing momentum for authentic Native comic book characters.