Native America Calling

Feast days are a special time for the Pueblo communities. More than a dozen Pueblo nations in New Mexico welcome visitors to their villages throughout the year in celebration of culture and religion. Often the public is invited to view traditional dances and feast on tantalizing dishes that spotlight traditional foods and ingredients like red and green chile, oven bread, beans and corn. On this show we’ll learn more about the significance of these special days and how they evolved over the years.

Solar power is a renewable energy resource that requires no pipelines. Solar generation adds no harmful emissions to the environment. So in an era of limits on fossil fuels, solar power makes a lot of sense. But the startup costs are high. On this show we’ll learn more about solar power projects in our Native Nations. Why doesn’t every house in sun-rich areas like the Southwest and California have solar power? Can solar power create more Native American jobs?

The non-Indigenous owners of Kooks Burritos in Portland closed their pop-up shop in May after word got out that they stole tortilla recipes from Indigenous women in Mexico. Last year, renowned director Francis Ford Coppola opened Werowocomoco, a Native-themed restaurant. These are just two notable examples of how people appropriate food from outside their own cultures. We’ll find out how Native chefs feel about appropriation and ways they’re fighting it.

Every year the Yurok tribe holds a salmon festival to celebrate the gifts from the Klamath River in northern California. The historic low number of returning fish meant there was no actual salmon at their last festival. Whether it’s coho, sockeye or pink, salmon are important to a number of tribes in the Pacific Northwest and in Alaska. In this special encore presentation, we’ll talk with folks from different tribes about the cultural significance salmon offers and the potential threats to the natural resource.

Early in his artistic career, Jimmie Durham claimed Cherokee descent. He has become a major contemporary artist. Under mounting scrutiny he’s since backed off Native heritage claims although he continues to use Native imagery in his work. A new retrospective of his work is traveling through selected institutions in North America reviving criticism that he has not adequately addressed his Native connection. Cherokee officials and artists went so far as to publicly call him a ‘trickster.’ We’ll hear from some of those who want Durham to come clean.

There’s a possibility a judge could shut off the Dakota Access Pipeline over the lack of a proper environmental review. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recommends trimming the size of Bears Ears National Monument. The final fate of that land and other monuments is still up in the air. At the same time, the size of the Interior Department is also slated to shrink, with implications for Indian Country. Join us as we catch up on the news.

This year marks two 150th anniversaries. The places we know today as Canada and Alaska are marking their sesquicentennials with historical exhibits, concerts, and other events. But in both places, the historical milestone is difficult for Indigenous people. Is there a way to acknowledge the legacy of violence and oppression against Native people alongside the flag-waving celebrations?

With roots in the O'odham Nation, Raye Zaragoza steps into the Native music scene with her debut album “Fight For You.” Many of the lyrics on this album are a reflection of the times, including a song dedicated to those working to protect water and sacred places. Raye’s soulful voice gracefully drifts over the notes and lets listeners melt into her creativity. She’ll talk with us about why she feels music is a pathway to understanding.

A unanimous Supreme Court recently struck down an obscure provision in trademark law. It’s a victory for free speech, but a major blow for those working to force a name change for the Washington DC NFL football team. The Court calls the provision unconstitutional. Team owners are celebrating in the end zone. The National Congress of the American Indian, meanwhile, calls the ruling, ‘disappointing’. We’ll explore the next strategies now that teams are free to retain financial incentives for keeping offensive mascots.

The story of Native Americans and the connection to the land is one that extends back generations. It is also woven through Native language and traditions. So when this connection is threatened it is no surprise Native voices speak up. This is the case with Natives from different nations who are speaking out on the designation of Bears Ears as a National Monument. U.S. President Barack Obama made the designation before he left office and the current administration is challenging that. Our June Book of the Month takes the issue head on with Native voices and explores the reasons this area in Utah should be protected. We’ll visit with the book’s editor, Jacqueline Keeler (Dakota/ Diné), and other contributors.