Native America Calling

Fears of the evolving coronavirus pandemic have already shut down sports events, conferences, school functions and major powwows. It also has people wary of public places and fearful of anyone nearby who so much as sneezes. The threat of the virus poses a serious threat to both people’s health and the economy. We’ll get some updates on what the effect of Covid-19 might ultimately be, how long it might last and what experts recommend to avoid it.

Woodland Art is often associated with colorful, two-dimensional representations of animals and natural landscapes. It’s a specific style that often incorporates spiritual imagery. It originates from the Great Lakes area and now includes artists from many Native Nations and regions. We’ll talk with some Woodland artists about their style and how they’ve adapted it to tell contemporary stories.

The decennial census is now underway. Tribes and organizations are making a push to get an accurate count of all Native Americans. They are also working to see that residents receive factual information about filling out the Census form. For example, they urge tribal members to use the name of their tribe exactly as it’s listed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Otherwise they risk not having their tribal affiliation represented. We’ll talk with experts about what Native Americans need to know about the Census.

Information about the coronavirus is changing fast. State by state, tribe by tribe, elected leaders and policymakers are responding to new details about Covid-19 on an hourly basis. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you are no doubt dealing with the fallout from the response and the actions of public health directives. We will get the perspectives of a variety of tribal officials, health policy experts and others.

After years of effort by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, bighorn sheep have returned to Paiute tribal land in Nevada for the first time in about a century. The animals were a source of sustenance for the tribe. The meat was food, hides were used for clothing and shelter, their horns were used in ceremony. Habitat loss and overhunting caused them to disappear. Other tribes throughout the West also have close ties to bighorn sheep. As part of our regular exploration of the environmental and cultural contributions of animals, we’ll learn about the importance of bighorn sheep.

“Reconciliation is dead and it was never really alive.” That’s the bold assertion from broadcaster and artist Jesse Wente (Serpent River First Nation) in a commentary about Canada’s official efforts since 2013 to come to grips with the country’s historical treatment of its Indigenous residents. His comments come as Canadian elected leaders fail to find a viable solution for the resistance against the Coastal GasLink pipeline across traditional Wet’suwet’en territory. We’ll get Wente’s views and hear about his career as a broadcaster, film curator and his role as director of the Indigenous Screen Office.

Airbnb might be good if you’re traveling to Eugene or New Orleans, but you’ll have to work a little harder to find an alternative room for the night on tribal land. Your hard work will be rewarded. Navajo-owned Shash Diné Eco-Retreat south of Page, Ariz. serves a traditional mutton dinner before a night of “glamping” in spacious tents or a restored sheepherder wagon. The historic Requa Inn on the Yurok reservation offers access to the Pacific Ocean as well as California redwood forests. Guests dine family style on steelhead and local organic greens. We’ll explore a few unique places to stay in Native America that are also adding economic development opportunities.

As they have done almost every year for the last ten years, lawmakers in South Dakota rejected a proposal this session to change the state’s statute of limitations on child sexual abuse. Time is running out for the dozens of survivors, including those from the Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribe, to hold organizations like the Catholic Church accountable for alleged crimes that occurred when the victims were children. Turtle Mountain’s Louise Aamot Charbonneau claims she was abused at the Catholic boarding school she attended in the 1970s. She died before she could testify in favor of changing South Dakota’s law during the legislature session this year. We’ll learn about South Dakota and the other states that put limits on holding institutions accountable for sexual abuse.

It’s a matter of when, not if. Many tribes are heavily invested in the fossil fuels industry. So much of the American economy depends on fossil fuels it’s hard to imagine life without them. But some organizations are doing just that. They say the time is now to start thinking about moving away from the energy and economy systems based on extracting minerals from the Earth. Thinking ahead, they say, will buffer the detrimental effects, particularly on laborers and low-income residents who could be hit the hardest. We’ll learn more about the concept of just transition and why Native Americans should pay attention.

Intermittent fasting, keto, and Whole30 are some of the diet plans that are currently popular. They’re among the ever-evolving ideas aimed at an audience hungry for simple, sustainable ways to lose weight and live a healthier life. There’s no shortage of information about what to eat and what to avoid. But how do you separate viable advice from internet ads telling you to “try this one weird trick” to lose weight. As we enter month three of 2020, those who started the year with a new diet plan might be questioning their decision. We’ll bring you advice from nutrition experts on where to find the most current and valuable information on feeding yourself. Send your nutrition questions to [email protected].