Native America Calling

Art made by Native women is a doorway to history and tradition. The legacies they create with each art piece brings more understanding about the resilience Native women bring not only to the family but the entire community. This hour we sit down with several Native women artists to hear their perspectives on what their craft has brought to them and their tribal nations.

Art has a way of conveying beauty to an audience. But it can also provide a creative way to tackle important and timely issues. We’ll look at how a handful of Native artists view borders through their work. The 2015 “Repellent Fence” project by the Native artist collective known as “Postcommodity” is a land art piece that stretched for two miles across the U.S.- Mexico border. It started conversations about how borders affect relationships between Indigenous people on both sides of the fence.

Art has a way of conveying beauty to an audience. But it can also provide a creative way to tackle important and timely issues. We’ll look at how a handful of Native artists view borders through their work. The 2015 “Repellent Fence” project by the Native artist collective known as “Postcommodity” is a land art piece that stretched for two miles across the U.S.- Mexico border. It started conversations about how borders affect relationships between Indigenous people on both sides of the fence.

Clashes between labor unions and gaming tribes surfaced once again when the U.S. Senate brought Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act to a vote. It failed. Tribal casinos are not exempt from the National Labor Relations Act, thanks to a 2004 labor board ruling. On this International Workers Day, or Mayday, we’ll talk with both sides about how organized labor fits in with tribal self-determination.

Clashes between labor unions and gaming tribes surfaced once again when the U.S. Senate brought Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act to a vote. It failed. Tribal casinos are not exempt from the National Labor Relations Act, thanks to a 2004 labor board ruling. On this International Workers Day, or Mayday, we’ll talk with both sides about how organized labor fits in with tribal self-determination.

Terrol Dew Johnson (Tohono O’odham) is known for his basketry in art circles. He’s also known as a food sovereignty advocate. His passions to contribute to a creative and healthy community derive from what he perceives needs to be done. He’s the CEO of TOCA (Tohono O’odham Community Action organization), a contemporary basket weaver and our April Native in the Spotlight

Terrol Dew Johnson (Tohono O’odham) is known for his basketry in art circles. He’s also known as a food sovereignty advocate. His passions to contribute to a creative and healthy community derive from what he perceives needs to be done. He’s the CEO of TOCA (Tohono O’odham Community Action organization), a contemporary basket weaver and our April Native in the Spotlight

It's time for the popular Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque. We take the opportunity to get a snapshot of the excitement with the voices in town for the event. Dancers, musicians, vendors, horses, and spectators all stop in for one of the largest powwows in the world.

It's time for the popular Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque. We take the opportunity to get a snapshot of the excitement with the voices in town for the event. Dancers, musicians, vendors, horses, and spectators all stop in for one of the largest powwows in the world.

The University of North Dakota organized a discussion of news coverage of the Dakota Access Pipeline protest. The day-long event included reporters remembering the dramatic clashes and at times defending their work more than a year later. We’ll talk with journalists and other stakeholders about the important issues in Native America on our round-up of the news.