Native America Calling

Poems can be an epiphany, a sad good bye to a former lover, or an emotional recollection of strength. They can also offer a hilarious tale of life in Native America. For National Poetry Month, we’ll hear from Native poets like Tiffany Midge (“Bury My Heart at Chuck E. Cheese’s”), Chris La Tray (“One-Sentence Journal”) and others to understand how humor can paint a true picture of Native America.

The Indian Child Welfare Act has some tough opponents in the courts and in the court of public opinion. ICWA proponents suffered a setback in the Brackeen vs Bernhardt case. Both sides just presented oral arguments in the appeal. We will go live from the annual Protecting Our Children National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect to hear first-hand stories from those affected by ICWA. We’ll also get expert analysis about the possible trajectory for the 40-year-old law going forward. (Poster artwork by Orlando Begay)

The Indian Child Welfare Act has some tough opponents in the courts and in the court of public opinion. ICWA proponents suffered a setback in the Brackeen vs Bernhardt case. Both sides just presented oral arguments in the appeal. We will go live from the annual Protecting Our Children National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect to hear first-hand stories from those affected by ICWA. We’ll also get expert analysis about the possible trajectory for the 40-year-old law going forward. (Poster artwork by Orlando Begay)

Native women entrepreneurs often face barriers to success. But attention to cultural values and meaningful networking along with a solid business plan and disciplined attention to detail can make all the difference. As the annual Native Women’s Business Summit gears up, we’ll take time to ask Native businesswomen about their keys to success and how they tackle issues like the wage gap, unequal access to resources and other obstacles.

Native women entrepreneurs often face barriers to success. But attention to cultural values and meaningful networking along with a solid business plan and disciplined attention to detail can make all the difference. As the annual Native Women’s Business Summit gears up, we’ll take time to ask Native businesswomen about their keys to success and how they tackle issues like the wage gap, unequal access to resources and other obstacles.

A new wave of summer missionaries will soon flock to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Journalist Mary Annette Pember (Red Cliff Band of Wisconsin Ojibwe) tracked where the money raised to help Oglala Sioux tribal members goes. Her latest piece in Indian Country Today is titled, “Seasonal complaint: 'Missionaries are on our reservation.'” Also, College Horizons has some perspective about how the college bribery scandal affects Native students trying to get into college.

A new wave of summer missionaries will soon flock to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Journalist Mary Annette Pember (Red Cliff Band of Wisconsin Ojibwe) tracked where the money raised to help Oglala Sioux tribal members goes. Her latest piece in Indian Country Today is titled, “Seasonal complaint: 'Missionaries are on our reservation.'” Also, College Horizons has some perspective about how the college bribery scandal affects Native students trying to get into college.

Every year the Center for Native American Youth picks a handful of outstanding Native youth who are working to make change in their communities. Charitie Ropati (Native Village of Kongignak) wants to decolonize education and is working in her school district to include regalia at graduation. Madison White (Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne) is devoted to healing from intergenerational trauma. She is making strides toward starting a sexual assault support group, a language immersion school, and a traditional resource center. Shandiin Herrera (Diné) is a Gates Millennium Scholar, a Udall Scholar, and a Chief Manuelito Scholar studying at Duke University. We’ll talk with them about their plans for making big and small changes in Native America.

Every year the Center for Native American Youth picks a handful of outstanding Native youth who are working to make change in their communities. Charitie Ropati (Native Village of Kongignak) wants to decolonize education and is working in her school district to include regalia at graduation. Madison White (Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne) is devoted to healing from intergenerational trauma. She is making strides toward starting a sexual assault support group, a language immersion school, and a traditional resource center. Shandiin Herrera (Diné) is a Gates Millennium Scholar, a Udall Scholar, and a Chief Manuelito Scholar studying at Duke University. We’ll talk with them about their plans for making big and small changes in Native America.

Archaeologists were surprised to find a stash of 3,000-year-old quinoa seeds while surveying a construction site in Ontario Canada. Up to that point, the South American grain from the same time period had been documented only as far north as Kentucky. Scientists think a previously unknown Indigenous trade route could have brought the quinoa to Canada. Other traditional trade routes are well-documented. Abalone and other ocean sea shells are important to tribes in the landlocked Southwest. The Three Sisters—corn, beans and squash—originally made their way to Native farm fields from Central America. We’ll learn the history of Indigenous trade routes and how they relate to today’s commerce and customs.