Native America Calling

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.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee leadership remains in turmoil as the principal chief and tribal council are at odds. The tribe’s Supreme Court allowied the impeachment process against the chief to continue. Meanwhile Principal Chief Patrick Lambert released financial audits he says shed light on financial misconduct by council members. We’ll talk with a reporter covering this complicated issue. Also two Native Americans are running for Congress. One of them hopes to be the first female Native in the US House of Representatives. Join us for our round up of the news.

This month we go to the Navajo Nation to sample the debut album “Gratitiude” by Dinè flute player Jonah Littlesunday. Over the years he’s used his Native American flute to help bring a bit of joy to the lives of the audiences including elders and children. He’s noted for his ability to translate emotions and stories thorough his flute playing. Songs like “Echoes” and “Navajo Waltz” swirl listeners into the landscapes he grew up with. Other tracks on the album are reflections of love, peace and unity.

The new Netflix series 13 Reasons Why has suicide experts debating the appropriate ways to address suicide in the media. Some are praising the show’s candid look at bullying, sexual assault and suicide, while others say it glorifies troubling issues for a vulnerable population. A show centered around suburban, white teenagers may not resonate with some Native youth. But the series does present an opportunity to revisit the many ways to reach out to Native youth that experience dramatically higher rates of suicide than any other group. We’ll talk with experts and youth about what it takes to save young lives.

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.

Tobacco smoke contributes to 41,000 non-smoker deaths every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A handful of studies, including one by the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, suggest even thirdhand smoke—chemicals and residue from tobacco smoke that settle on walls, clothes and furniture—might also cause harm, mostly for people in smokers’ homes. Some tribes ban commercial tobacco smoking in certain areas. But is that enough to protect children and other nonsmokers?

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.