Native America Calling

Landowners in several Native communities, including Fort Hall, the Navajo Nation and Quinault are facing deadlines with the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations. The $1.9 billion program is part of the Cobell Settlement set up to purchase “fractionated interests in trust” from Native landowners. Trust land and land issues in Indian Country can get confusing very fast. We’ll get a status update on the program and review the basics of how it works. What should landowners know before they sell their land?

A pack of feral dogs mauled a three year old boy to death on the Navajo Nation last month. Kayden Colter Begay was visiting his grandparents at the time. His family expressed outrage at the Navajo Nation’s lack of animal control. Chapter officials say they don’t have resources for adequate enforcement. What more can be done about pets-turned-feral in Native America? Where does responsible pet ownership come into play?

We turn to the Hopi Nation to hear the latest from Clark Tenakhongva. His album “Su’Vu’Yo’Yungw” is a mix of music that pays tribute to his tribal Nation and resonates with many others. His path as a veteran, community leader, rancher and farmer also influence his music. We’ll hear more about the album and Tenakhongva’s creative process on our August Music Maker.

Within the last week, prosecutors declined to file any charges against a Winslow, Arizona police officer who shot and killed a Navajo woman in March. Officer Austin Shipley shot Loreal Tsingine five times during a conflict that arose from a shoplifting complaint from a local convenience store. The developments revived ongoing concerns in the Navajo Nation border town and in other Native communities about racial bias and police relations. Are any solutions being discussed in any Native Nations that appear viable? What’s next for Tsingine’s family?

Several high profile police shootings have the country once again discussing where social justice and safety collide. Where does Native America fit into this discussion? Also the political conventions are coming to an end and we are formally in the presidential election home stretch. We’ll discuss the highs and lows of both conventions and what Native American voters might be taking away from the rhetoric. We’ll discuss the news that is important to Native America.

A recent look at selected groceries purchased in different places found prices anywhere from a few cents to more than a dollar more in Native community stores. The First Nations Development Institute released the working paper on the cost of things like bread, milk and eggs. In addition, a study published by the National Institutes of Health suggests living in food deserts—like some rural reservations—contributes increases food costs. What do you notice about food prices where you live? How does the price of food affect your health?

After a long day, it’s tough to figure out what to do for dinner. A grilled chicken breast with a red leaf lettuce salad is the healthy option. But a burger and a diet coke from the drive-thru is a lot easier. Exactly how many Indian tacos are we allowed to eat in a month’s time? It’s particularly difficult to know what to eat with so many competing messages about health circling our atmosphere. Should we eat a low-fat diet with lots of complex carbohydrates? Or is a low-carb, high protein diet better? We’ll speak with a nutritionist about the right eating choices for you.

Author and poet Sherman Alexie (Coeur d’Alene) gears his latest book toward young readers. “Thunder Boy Jr” is a colorful story about a boy who shares the same name as his father. But he wants a name that’s all his own, one that celebrates something cool that he’s done. Have you ever wished for a name different from the one you were given at birth? We’ll hear from Alexie about his character’s search for a new name and how it connects with Alexie’s literary path on the July Book of the Month show.

It’s a proud moment to see your kid dressed in traditional regalia dancing in the powwow arena for the first time. Many powwows have a “Tiny Tots” category where the young ones can dance for fun. Many times everyone gets a prize. We’ll speak with parents about introducing their kids to the powwow. Who introduced the importance of dancing to you? What is the best way to get your kids to care about the powwow?

If you see young people wandering around parks and street corners staring at their smartphones more than usual, don’t be alarmed. They’re playing the video game Pokémon Go, which is apparently all the rage right now. Video games are usually criticized for turning kids into couch potatoes, so the Pokémon Go app is earning some praise for getting them outside. What other programs and methods inspire people to go outdoors? Native people have always had a profound relationship with the natural world. We’ll talk about some ideas that aim to help re-establish that connection.