Native America Calling

In Arizona, June is the traditional time Saguaro cactus fruits are ripe. It is also the Tohono O’odham New Year. For traditional harvests, the fruit is knocked down with sticks, called kuipad, made from dried Saguaro ribs. The fruit can be eaten fresh or made into juice, syrup, jam or a fermented ceremonial wine among other things. We’ll hear about the traditional importance of Saguaro cactus fruit for Native people in the Sonoran Desert.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a “fix” for the controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling on placing land into trust. The proposal is now stalled in the Senate. For the past 10 years, elected leaders on both sides of the aisle have called it a bad ruling and have been working on a legislative solution. The Carcieri v. Salazar decision from 2009 means the Interior Department can place land into trust only for tribes recognized by the federal government before 1934. There are some exceptions. In 2011, Assistant Secretary–Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk called it a “Carcieri crisis” and warned that the ruling affects jobs, economic development and public safety. We’ll get an update on the status of a legislative “fix” and hear about the ongoing effects of the decision on tribes.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a “fix” for the controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling on placing land into trust. The proposal is now stalled in the Senate. For the past 10 years, elected leaders on both sides of the aisle have called it a bad ruling and have been working on a legislative solution. The Carcieri v. Salazar decision from 2009 means the Interior Department can place land into trust only for tribes recognized by the federal government before 1934. There are some exceptions. In 2011, Assistant Secretary–Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk called it a “Carcieri crisis” and warned that the ruling affects jobs, economic development and public safety. We’ll get an update on the status of a legislative “fix” and hear about the ongoing effects of the decision on tribes.

Do you ever get looked down on for not speaking your Native language fluently? Or do you feel pressure to achieve more than your peers so they don’t label you an ‘Affirmative Action’ hire? You might fit into what psychologists describe as impostor syndrome. It’s the feeling that you don’t belong or that you don’t deserve success. There are a number of ways to cope with it and we’ll hear some of the strategies.

Do you ever get looked down on for not speaking your Native language fluently? Or do you feel pressure to achieve more than your peers so they don’t label you an ‘Affirmative Action’ hire? You might fit into what psychologists describe as impostor syndrome. It’s the feeling that you don’t belong or that you don’t deserve success. There are a number of ways to cope with it and we’ll hear some of the strategies.

Indigenous scholar Nick Estes, a citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, recounts the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline in his new book “Our History Is the Future.” He explores the Indigenous resistance for what’s also referred to as #NoDAPL or, simply, Standing Rock. What started as a protest turned into the Water Is Life movement that carries on in other fights involving corporate intrusion at the expense of Native sovereignty. Estes joins us for a discussion of “Our History Is the Future.”

Indigenous scholar Nick Estes, a citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, recounts the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline in his new book “Our History Is the Future.” He explores the Indigenous resistance for what’s also referred to as #NoDAPL or, simply, Standing Rock. What started as a protest turned into the Water Is Life movement that carries on in other fights involving corporate intrusion at the expense of Native sovereignty. Estes joins us for a discussion of “Our History Is the Future.”

E-cigarettes might be a better alternative for adult commercial tobacco smokers. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns e-cigarettes are not safe for pregnant women and potentially pose serious health threats, especially for teens. Scientists are still learning about the long term health effects of vaping nicotine. We’ll talk with tobacco prevention experts about things to consider before taking up the e-cigarettes habit.

E-cigarettes might be a better alternative for adult commercial tobacco smokers. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns e-cigarettes are not safe for pregnant women and potentially pose serious health threats, especially for teens. Scientists are still learning about the long term health effects of vaping nicotine. We’ll talk with tobacco prevention experts about things to consider before taking up the e-cigarettes habit.

Coffee is not Indigenous to North America, but more than 60 percent of Americans drink a cup of coffee every day, according to the National Coffee Association USA’s 2019 National Coffee Data Trends report. It’s also found a place in Native American pantries and is now a cherished and necessary part of Native life. Coffee cafes, roasters and wholesalers are all reliable economic development opportunities for Native entrepreneurs.