Native America Calling

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.

There’s a number of interpretations for the hunch-backed, flute playing figure known as Kokopelli. It’s variously described as a fertility deity, a male trader going from village to village with a sack of goods, or even an insect. Depictions of Kokopelli appeared on pottery and rock art in the Four Corners area. In the last 30 years, Kokopelli has been adopted as a commercial symbol on everything from skateboards and café signs to t-shirts and roadside tourist stops. We’ll hear from historians and tribal cultural experts on what’s known about Kokopelli and how it has become a modern symbol for Southwest Indigenous culture.

There’s a number of interpretations for the hunch-backed, flute playing figure known as Kokopelli. It’s variously described as a fertility deity, a male trader going from village to village with a sack of goods, or even an insect. Depictions of Kokopelli appeared on pottery and rock art in the Four Corners area. In the last 30 years, Kokopelli has been adopted as a commercial symbol on everything from skateboards and café signs to t-shirts and roadside tourist stops. We’ll hear from historians and tribal cultural experts on what’s known about Kokopelli and how it has become a modern symbol for Southwest Indigenous culture.

Are your kids reading books this summer? Many libraries are offering summer reading programs with incentives like movie tickets and gift cards to get children reading. A large body of research warns that an entire summer off from school can lower achievement levels by the time classes start again in fall. Joining a reading program or taking a summer class can help prevent the “summer slide.” Educators and book lovers share their recommendations and their joy of summer reading.

Are your kids reading books this summer? Many libraries are offering summer reading programs with incentives like movie tickets and gift cards to get children reading. A large body of research warns that an entire summer off from school can lower achievement levels by the time classes start again in fall. Joining a reading program or taking a summer class can help prevent the “summer slide.” Educators and book lovers share their recommendations and their joy of summer reading.

The Washington state attorney general’s office must now obtain free, prior and informed consent on projects that affect the tribes. It’s a step up from consultation, which, in practice, typically falls short of adequate discourse on projects that include ancestral land. The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples sets a standard mandating consent with Indigenous people “before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.” We’ll talk with the tribal president who was instrumental in getting the policy in Washington adopted. We’ll also get a picture of how consent is utilized internationally.

The Washington state attorney general’s office must now obtain free, prior and informed consent on projects that affect the tribes. It’s a step up from consultation, which, in practice, typically falls short of adequate discourse on projects that include ancestral land. The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples sets a standard mandating consent with Indigenous people “before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.” We’ll talk with the tribal president who was instrumental in getting the policy in Washington adopted. We’ll also get a picture of how consent is utilized internationally.

The Supreme Court affirmed treaty rights in the case of a Crow tribal member charged with hunting without a license in Big Horn National Forrest in Wyoming. The court ruled the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty granted rights to hunt in traditional territory. We’ll talk with a legal expert about what the ruling could mean for other cases. We'll check in with Mary Annette Pember (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) about her three part series on sexual harassment in Indian Country. Also we’ll talk with U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) about his priorities as chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources. And we'll check in on the Cherokee Nation's election.

The Supreme Court affirmed treaty rights in the case of a Crow tribal member charged with hunting without a license in Big Horn National Forrest in Wyoming. The court ruled the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty granted rights to hunt in traditional territory. We’ll talk with a legal expert about what the ruling could mean for other cases. We'll check in with Mary Annette Pember (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) about her three part series on sexual harassment in Indian Country. Also we’ll talk with U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) about his priorities as chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources. And we'll check in on the Cherokee Nation's election.

It’s the time of year students sit through long graduation ceremonies with notable speeches to pick up their diplomas. But graduation marks years of hard work and dedication. As graduates prepare for the next chapter in their lives, we take the opportunity to celebrate their achievements. We’ll hear from educators, graduating seniors and their parents to help us honor the Native Class of 2019.