Over the years Native America has had the chance to experience what Blackfeet and Suquamish author, attorney, activist and poet Gyasi Ross has had to say through news outlets and his book. This month we bring you the opportunity to hear Gyasi through his new album “Isskootsik (Before Here Was Here)” off of Cabin Games label. It’s a blend of spoken word poetry that opens up stories about life and lessons learned all set to a rhythmic hip-hop sound. People like Winona LaDuke and Marlon Brando are thrown into the mix of words on a couple of the tracks. We invite you to join us as we visit with our December Music Maker, Gyasi Ross.

Archived show from November 2010, featuring John Trudell. There are masses of young, dynamic Native people who are socially and tribally conscious. They are ready to take on the sometimes overwhelming task of fighting for indigenous rights. How do we activate, motivate, mobilize and energize our next generation of grassroots activists and advocates? How do we get them to engage in this work for the long haul? Also, what can they learn from tribal elders and the vast, complex history of American Indian activism of only one or two generations ago? Guests include activists John Trudell (Santee Sioux) and Sara Marie Ortiz (Acoma Pueblo).

Language, culture and identity are helping educators and advocates tackle social issues like substance abuse and depression. Organizations are turning to Native values like respect to address homelessness and caring for elders. Native movements are helping replace other figures that historically oppressed Native nations. Others are restoring traditional place names. What types of movements are reshaping your community? What are the secrets to inspiring Indigenous youth to better their surroundings?

American cigarette smoking is on the decline, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But, it’s not the same story in Native America. Native Americans and Alaska Natives are the heaviest smokers compared to all other ethnicities. When tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death, why are Native Americans still smoking so much?

From our archives, the April, 2008 Book for the Month featuring John Trudell. The mind is a terrible thing to waste but a mined mind is terrible to be silenced. As poetry month comes to an end, the words that express what the human spirit endures and goes through are set free in John Trudell’s (Santee Sioux) latest book “Lines from a Mined Mind.” The collection of writings – from nearly a quarter century of his life – has converged in one place to help shake loose the restraints of being and intelligence. How does thinking arm the human soul against the world around them? Can out thinking an enemy prove to be mightier than any hand held weapon?

The history of record is often told by those in dominate society, while other communities find their voices silenced. "An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States" tells 400 years of history from an Indigenous perspective. Join us for a conversation with the author, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz about the U.S. policies and events and that shaped Native America. What exactly is history told from an Indigenous point of view? Did your history classes include an Indigenous perspective?

Have you ever woken from a dream and wondered what it all meant? Dreams about flying, falling or even being chased can mean different things to different people. Sometimes our dreams can provide insight into our daily lives, and sometimes they are just puzzling. Native Voice One’s show Seers from the First People explores what dreams mean. Join us for a conversation with the hosts, who will analyze your dreams from their perspective.

The construction of dams is a contentious issue for some Native communities. The Garrison Dam in North Dakota, constructed in 1947, flooded one fourth of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation’s land base. In 2011, the Lower Elwah Klallam Tribe celebrated the removal of the dams on the Elwha River. A recent dam break in Brazil caused 11 deaths and another 12 people are missing. It also released over 60 million cubic meters of toxic mining waste into the Rio Dolce. The disaster affected several Indigenous communities including the Krenak tribe whose only source of drinking water is now contaminated. Should we take a second look at the dams in Native America?

The project “Rising Voices/Hótȟaŋiŋpi” examines the struggle to learn the Lakota language. It’s one of many programs all over the US focused on revitalizing individual Native languages. What does it take to really learn the tongue of your people? Are you worried the most basic tools of communication for your ancestors are disappearing? What challenges do communities and individuals face with acquiring and speaking Indigenous language?

The good news is states are making strides in the fight against sex traffickers, according to a new Shared Hope International study. But in Native America the picture for victims remains bleak. South Dakota is benefitting from a crackdown on the worst offenders, but former U.S. attorney Brendan Johnson notes “Native Americans are a disproportionate percentage of victims.” How do reservation jurisdictional issues complicate sex trafficking prosecutions? In this hour, we’ll focus on what tribes, states and advocates are doing to keep Natives safe from traffickers.