The editor of “Write” magazine came under fire for an editorial he wrote called “Winning the appropriation prize.” In it, he encouraged authors to appropriate more; to write more about cultures and people they don’t identify with. That sparked a debate on appropriation as other editors and authors from Canadian media weighed in. Are people missing something about appropriation? We’ll talk with Indigenous writers from Canada about what appropriation is and how it affects Native people.

Knowing how to apply for a job or resolving conflicts with friends are among the wide range of basic life skills that aren’t directly taught in school. Young people might pick up such skills from family or community members if there are good role models. We’ll talk with folks from NativeVision, a sports and life skills camp that has spent more than 20 years making life skills a priority. They tell us why it’s important for Native youth to zero in on the basics.

Did you know there is a law still on the books that allows children to be placed in boarding school without parental consent? There is also still a provision for denying government money to ‘hostile Indians’. U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., wants to remove some antiquated laws about Native Americans. He proposes the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act to do that. On this show we’ll explore that effort and a few of the other racist images, names and laws of the past that don’t stand the test of time.

Before he left office, President Barack Obama designated Bears Ears in Utah a National Monument to protect 1.3 million acres that contain many sites significant to several tribes. Now, President Trump is calling for a review of that decision and dozens of other monument designations since 1996. That could open the door for more oil drilling, mining and other development in those places. Interior Department Sec. Ryan Zinke made his first visit to Bears Ears as a decision on the monument status looms. Is there a precedent for stripping a National Monument designation? What would that mean for the coalition of tribes that worked to ensure the area’s protection?

Louisiana is losing coastal land to encroaching water from the Gulf of Mexico, driving away plants and animals tribes traditionally rely on. In Alaska, thinning ice prevents subsistence hunters from reaching game that provide food for their communities. Those are just two examples of how climate change is affecting traditional Native food ways. We’ll discuss how tribes are taking preventative measures to keep their traditional foods alive as their environments change.

Self-taught playwright, Larissa FastHorse (Sičháŋǧu Lakota), tells an interesting story in her newest play, “What Would Crazy Horse Do?” The satirical play explores issues of racial preservation and cultural pride. We’ll talk to FastHorse about her new play and why it’s important to have a Native presence on the stage.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all mothers breast-feed exclusively for a baby’s first six months. That’s because breast milk has long-lasting health benefits for both babies and mothers. Numbers are scarce, but one 2012 study reveals fewer than six out of ten Native American and Alaska Native mothers start breast-feeding. Most of those stop before the six month mark. Breast-feeding advocates say Native women face a number of barriers, including lack of education and poor access to work environments that support nursing mothers.

About 500 young Native athletes from across Alaska gather every year to test strength, balance, agility and teamwork. The annual NYO (Native Youth Olympics) Games just wrapped up in Anchorage. In addition to acknowledging physical feats, the games also emphasize traditional subsistence activities and encourage academics. We’ll hear from some of the young athletes about what drives them and how they connect to Alaska Native culture and tradition.

The Cherokee Nation faults several major drug companies and distributors for opioid addiction and overdose deaths among their members. Theirs is the first tribal lawsuit to combat the growing problems associated with prescription pain relievers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are among the organizations that say opiate addiction is an epidemic. In 2015 more than twenty thousand people died from prescription opioid overdoses. Who is responsible when people abuse powerful prescription drugs?

Native America Calling reached out to the companies named in the Cherokee Nation lawsuit. Two of them and IHS issued written statements that you can read here.

The Grand Canyon is considered a national treasure. It’s also sacred to many tribes. There are projects proposed to increase tourism dollars and create economic development for areas surrounding the canyon. The Grand Canyon Escalade would bring a river walk and gondola ride to the northeast corner of the canyon, located on the Navajo Nation. Supporters say the project will bring much-needed economic development. The opposition says the project will encroach on sacred areas and damage the environment. Would you take a tram ride into the Grand Canyon?