Native America Calling

The deadline is near for those eligible to receive cash payments from the U.S. government over the historic Cobell settlement. Many people who have money coming to them don’t know they’re on the list. November 27th is the last day to file a claim stemming from the case. After that the remaining money goes into the Education Scholarship Fund established under the settlement. Those working to find recipients estimate some 35-thousand tribal members and their descendants remain eligible but have not applied. We’ll talk about the process to file a claim and cover some of the history of how we got here.

Congress is taking steps to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska to oil and gas drilling. Opponents have turned back similar efforts before, but Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration are generating momentum for the idea. Alaska Native voices are on both sides of the issue. Some Alaska Native corporations stand to benefit from oil development. Others say it’s a fragile ecosystem and home to traditional food sources and sacred places.

If Moonshot, Blanket of Butterflies, and the Baker twins sound familiar, you might be nerdy enough to fit in at the second annual Indigenous Comic Con. We’ll be broadcasting live from the event that features Native artists, filmmakers, writers, game developers, cosplayers and fans. This year the 3-day gathering is at the Isleta Resort & Casino outside of Albuquerque. Listen in for a snapshot of the action as it happens.

“Toxic masculinity’ is a concept being used by opinion columnists and academics to tag bad behavior by everyone from Harvey Weinstein to President Donald Trump on Twitter. Discussions link toxic masculinity to issues as serious as gun violence, and as mundane as shaggy beards. We’ll talk with a group of Native men about what it means to be a man, what guidance Native traditions provide and what masculinity has to offer when it stays this side of poisonous.

Shayai Lucero’s (Acoma/Laguna) paternal grandfather told her that whenever you act inappropriately you get a mark on your hands that only the Creator can see. The goal is to meet Creator with as few marks as possible. This is one of the cultural teachings that guides her actions. In a TEDx talk, Lucero recalled turning to those teachings to guide her response to angry, racist incidents. We’ll hear about her approach which involves culture, heart and humor.

Native American women are some of the lowest paid employees in the country, according to a new study by the American Association of University Women. The gender pay gap happens for a variety of reasons including the types of jobs women and men gravitate towards, education, and child rearing. The authors of the study say the gender pay gap is closing but it’s going to take years, even decades for women to reach pay equity with men. In this program, we’ll discuss what’s behind the numbers and being done to address the issue in Native America.

The action starts in 1860 when an order is given to the Calvary to retrieve something they feel is extraordinary. From there the narrative takes us into the story of Changing Woman and the beginning of the Hero Twins saga. Native Realities Press issue number one of the “Hero Twins” comic by Navajo illustrator Dale Deforest is out and we are bringing you closer to the adventure with our November book of the month. We hear how this graphic tale ties to Navajo tradition.

Native Americans save the least amount of money for retirement compared to all other groups. That’s the sobering statistic from the Social Security Office of Retirement and Disability Policy. Researchers say it’s because Native people face “substantial economic challenges.” Fortunately, Native elders have a network of tribal-run programs they can utilize during retirement that include Meals on Wheels and help with winter heating. We’ll talk about what it takes to retire and what challenges elders currently face when resources dwindle.

More than a month after Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico, some people are still without electricity and clean water. More than 50 people died because of the storm. Indigenous people from Puerto Rico are among those who are struggling to return to normal. Puerto Rican and Indigenous Taino people on the mainland are working to muster financial support and direct aid. We’ll check in on the slow progress to recover from the devastating hurricane.

In Canada, an apology, $2 billion, and a truth and reconciliation commission were all part of addressing the disastrous effects of residential schools. In the US, there are individuals and non profit groups working towards boarding school reconciliation, but nothing from a government level. The legacy of boarding schools is still something that many Native Nations are struggling to address. On this show, we’ll talk with the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition about their work.