Native America Calling

After the tribes and pueblos in the area applied pressure, Sec. David Bernhardt announced the U.S. Department of Interior would extend the public comment period on a proposal to allow fracking near Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. It is a concession to the tribes hoping to keep intact a ban on oil and gas drilling on federal land within 10 miles of the historic and spiritual site. The buffer zone moratorium expires this year.

There are a lot of questions about the coming school year as colleges grapple with the continuing coronavirus threat. A survey of the American Council on Education Presidents finds 53% of institutions are “very likely” to have in-person classes in the fall. It’s not clear what some other institutions are planning. The entire California State University system is among those going completely online for at least the first semester of the school year. We’ll talk about the concerns Native students have navigating an uncertain higher education landscape during the pandemic.

As public spaces begin re-opening, doctors, nurses, and emergency medical technicians remain on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus pandemic. They are working long hours testing and treating people, increasing their chances of infection. In some cases they are working without adequate equipment and rapidly changing information. We’ll talk with Native professionals on the front lines of the pandemic about how they’re coping. We’ll also hear about how the response has evolved, what health policy makers are getting right, and where things need to improve.

Meat processors are having a hard time getting back to pre-coronavirus production levels because of the potential for large infection outbreaks among their employees. That’s a kink in the system that has implications for Native ranchers, packing plants, and ultimately consumers. The same threat is present for all food industries that rely on humans to keep the system moving, like commercial fishing, poultry farmers, and some grain and vegetable suppliers.

Millions of truck drivers crisscross the country every day delivering tons of products to stores, businesses and factories. They make up a vital connection between producers and customers. Drivers can spend days and weeks on the road. With the COVID-19 pandemic, truckers are reporting more difficult times on the highway with gas station and restaurant closures. We’ll check in with Native truckers and get to know the ins and outs of a career behind the steering wheel.

Relationships are they key to keeping people healthy. That’s an idea that informs a health care system serving 65,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people in Alaska. They don’t use the word “patient,” but instead refer to the people receiving care as “customer-owners.” The Nuka System of Care at the Southcentral Foundation focuses on treating the whole person. They are utilizing this system to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and to prepare to treat those infected. We’ll learn more about different types of health care systems and possible models for going forward.

Both peaceful protests and rioting continue across the country in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. In Minneapolis, members of the American Indian Movement are patrolling the streets, protecting a stretch of businesses, organizations and housing known at the Native American Cultural Corridor from looting and vandalism. The city and dozens of others have enacted curfews and are utilizing National Guard units to maintain control. We’ll check in with Native people about how the protests and violence resonate where they are and what George Floyd’s legacy will be for Native Americans.

The arrival of smallpox, measles and other diseases brought by foreign settlers is forever linked to the widespread devastation of Native Americans, who had limited or no immunity. The ultimate survival of both the inadvertent and deliberate spread of deadly contagions is an enduring testament to the resilience of Native people. Now, as we face a new disease threat, we’ll get a history lesson on how past outbreaks shaped subsequent generations and what more we can learn from those hardships.

Director Tasha Hubbard’s (Cree) 2019 film “nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up,” is picking up accolades and new attention. It recently won the 2020 Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary at the Canadian Screen Awards. It recounts the story of Colten Boushie (Cree from Red Pheasant First Nation) who was shot to death after he wandered onto the property of a white farmer in 2016. His death and the acquittal of the man who shot him prompted concern, frustration and anger among First Nations people in Canada. Hubbard puts the shooting in context of the broader racial and cultural divide and her own personal experiences.

Many tribal casinos are re-opening, but with added restrictions to try and prevent spreading the coronavirus. We’ll hear about the potential benefits and dangers as businesses open their doors to the public. Specifically, we’ll focus on what contact tracing involves and how data is helpful in keeping the public safe. Also a Montana judge blocked a law limiting the number of absentee ballots one individual could bring to the post office or polling place. The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana says the law disproportionately affects Native voters who live in rural areas and may have limited access to post offices or polling places. These stories and more are in our regular news round up.