Native America Calling

Entrepreneur and comic artist Kristina Bad Hand (Sičháŋǧu Lakota/Cherokee) explores the intersections between pop culture and Native life. She creates bold, striking and sometimes brash images. From making Lakota playing cards to re-envisioning Beauty and the Beast, she has a talent for putting her own cultural flair to familiar subjects. We’ll chat with her about her art, working with Native youth, and the challenges of starting a business. Send your questions to [email protected].

The Hopi Tribe and others find themselves in the position—again—of trying to stop a damaging sale of items by a French auction house. The EVE auction house is holding its sixth auction of Native American objects later this month, selling items from several tribes. Many of the items are considered sacred. A bill to curb some sales died in Congress. Sponsors of the STOP Act (Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony) say they plan to bring it back, but it still lacks power to stop international sales like the upcoming auction.

What feels like support for someone in the grip of addiction could actually make things worse. Family and friends naturally want to help someone whose life dissolves into homelessness, crime or other dangerous conditions that can accompany addiction. That help can cross the line into enabling. We’ll talk about what enabling looks like and what the friends and family of those who are dealing with addiction can do to truly help.

Producers for the movie version of the “Ni’ihau Incident” are casting white actors to play people of color. Actor Zack McGowan will play Native Hawaiian Benehakaka “Ben” Kanahele, who was a key figure in the World War II event. It’s a true account of a Japanese pilot who crashed on a Hawaiian island. The choice of McGowan in the lead prompts the recurring question of why the role wasn’t offered to a Native Hawaiian. It also highlights Hollywood’s long history of whitewashing movie characters.

The Minneapolis Dakota community successfully negotiated the removal of a controversial sculpture at the Walker Art Center. Activists and community members protested artist Sam Durant’s piece “Scaffold” which is fashioned after several historical hanging gallows. The artist said it’s partly based on the structure used to hang 38 Dakota men in Mankato Minnesota in 1862. The Minneapolis Native community said it diminished the history of the Dakota 38. Now the structure will be dismantled and burned. Is the outcome an acceptable model for dealing with insensitive art?

Before Tylenol or Tums, Native people had a vast knowledge of plant medicine to help heal the body and spirit. Although fewer Native people have this knowledge today, it’s still an important part of Native culture, health and ceremony. In this program, we’ll talk about the importance of plant medicine in Native America. We’ll also explore how land and environmental issues are impacting the growth and harvest of medicinal and sacred plants.

About 1.5 percent of 8-year-olds are living with autism spectrum disorder, according to the 2016 Community Report on Autism by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Native families are among those who are caring for a young loved one with autism. Health experts say when children with autism are not properly diagnosed early, they are at risk for developing life-long behavior problems. In this program, we turn to health specialists to find out exactly what autism is and why early intervention could change young lives.

Inupiaq and Tlingit poet Ishmael Hope understands the importance of culture and its tie to place. In his new collection of poetry titled “Rock Piles Along the Eddy,” he illuminates just how the two are woven together. Poems like “Indigenous Thought” and “Caribou Hunters Out At Camp” are two out of dozens of thought-provoking works. His word play gets readers close to his sense of life as a descendant of rich culture and heritage.

On this Memorial Day we take the hour to learn more about the life and legacy of the late Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow of the Crow Nation. His role in the U.S. Army and efforts towards Native American history earned him a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Born in 1913, the esteemed veteran, educator and cultural advocate witnessed many things in his life including the birth of his Native nation’s tribal college. His view on education and culture has inspired many to keep close to their traditions and community. We invite you to join us for our pre-recorded tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow.

Slot machines seem to explode with music, bells and flashy graphics whenever you win something. That’s among the sensory overload gambling establishments offer to boost the entertainment value of gambling. But the consequences of compulsive gambling are far from entertaining. Gambling addicts often lie to friends and family as they experience financial problems. We’ll talk with experts about the signs and treatment options for those addicted to gambling.