Native America Calling

South Dakota could become one of the few states in the country to officially recognize Indigenous languages. After emotional testimony by tribal leaders and language experts, the Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 126 that makes Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota the state’s official Indigenous languages. At the same time the U.S. Senate is considering reauthorizing the Ester Martinez Language Act that expired in 2012. The landmark legislation first passed in 2006 and allocates funding for Native language revitalization efforts across the country. We’ll learn more about legislative actions to help revitalize Native languages.

“The Heart Beat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present” is a quick trip through time. Author David Treuer (Leech Lake Ojibwe) leads the non-fiction tour. He pushes back on the way Native people’s history is far too often framed through tragedy and loss while washing away Native existence and complexity. He also wants people to pick up his book not as a public service to Natives, but to truly learn about the country because as he says, “you can’t understand America unless you understand Native Americans.”

“The Heart Beat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present” is a quick trip through time. Author David Treuer (Leech Lake Ojibwe) leads the non-fiction tour. He pushes back on the way Native people’s history is far too often framed through tragedy and loss while washing away Native existence and complexity. He also wants people to pick up his book not as a public service to Natives, but to truly learn about the country because as he says, “you can’t understand America unless you understand Native Americans.”

“The Heart Beat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present” is a quick trip through time. Author David Treuer (Leech Lake Ojibwe) leads the non-fiction tour. He pushes back on the way Native people’s history is far too often framed through tragedy and loss while washing away Native existence and complexity. He also wants people to pick up his book not as a public service to Natives, but to truly learn about the country because as he says, “you can’t understand America unless you understand Native Americans.”

A coal train derailment on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation has triggered a dispute over jurisdiction. We'll get the latest from the tribe. One of the Covington Catholic High School students featured in a video with Omaha elder Nathan Phillips is seeking $250 million in a defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post. Does the suit have a chance? Also, there's progress toward restoring press freedom on Muscogee (Creek) Nation. But journalism advocates say some proposed details could be problematic. Tune in for our Native news round-up.

A coal train derailment on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation has triggered a dispute over jurisdiction. We'll get the latest from the tribe. One of the Covington Catholic High School students featured in a video with Omaha elder Nathan Phillips is seeking $250 million in a defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post. Does the suit have a chance? Also, there's progress toward restoring press freedom on Muscogee (Creek) Nation. But journalism advocates say some proposed details could be problematic. Tune in for our Native news round-up.

A coal train derailment on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation has triggered a dispute over jurisdiction. We'll get the latest from the tribe. One of the Covington Catholic High School students featured in a video with Omaha elder Nathan Phillips is seeking $250 million in a defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post. Does the suit have a chance? Also, there's progress toward restoring press freedom on Muscogee (Creek) Nation. But journalism advocates say some proposed details could be problematic. Tune in for our Native news round-up.

This month we welcome Swinomish & Iñupiat musician Katherine Paul into our monthly celebration of music. Her musical venture is called Black Belt Eagle Scout and her newest album is titled “Mother of My Children.” As a teenager she taught herself to play the guitar and things rocketed from there. She says she plays music to process feelings and there are many emotions that ring out in the different tracks on the album including what it means to face loss and what it means to still dream afterwards. We’ll experience her passionate guitar solos and lyrics on our February Music Maker.

This month we welcome Swinomish & Iñupiat musician Katherine Paul into our monthly celebration of music. Her musical venture is called Black Belt Eagle Scout and her newest album is titled “Mother of My Children.” As a teenager she taught herself to play the guitar and things rocketed from there. She says she plays music to process feelings and there are many emotions that ring out in the different tracks on the album including what it means to face loss and what it means to still dream afterwards. We’ll experience her passionate guitar solos and lyrics on our February Music Maker.

This month we welcome Swinomish & Iñupiat musician Katherine Paul into our monthly celebration of music. Her musical venture is called Black Belt Eagle Scout and her newest album is titled “Mother of My Children.” As a teenager she taught herself to play the guitar and things rocketed from there. She says she plays music to process feelings and there are many emotions that ring out in the different tracks on the album including what it means to face loss and what it means to still dream afterwards. We’ll experience her passionate guitar solos and lyrics on our February Music Maker.