Native America Calling

When is it appropriate to laugh at misfortune, bad luck and racism? Native comedians make fun of things that some people might consider hurtful, like poverty or cultural stereotypes. What do you find funny with your own culture? Is it OK to laugh at our shortcomings? Are some jokes funnier in Lakota or another language? What do we learn about ourselves when something that’s part of our lives becomes a punchline?

As an advocate for Indigenous cultural, legal, political and environmental rights Sylvia McAdam (Saysewahum) has inspired many others with her passion and dedication to protecting Native ways of life. McAdam is one of the co-founders of the Idle No More movement. Her view on the hold colonialism has on Native liberty has also prompted others to push for self-determination and seek the path of healing from an era of genocide. Join us for this episode of Native America Calling where we sit down with Sylvia McAdam (Nêhiyaw First Nation) our March Native in the Spotlight.

A new, costly treatment can cure some types of hepatitis C. It’s promising news for Native Americans, who, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have higher rates of hepatitis C infections than any other group. We’ll educate ourselves about how hepatitis C is transmitted and diagnosed. We’ll also discuss the latest treatments and the outlook for people who need it most.

Antonin Scalia's sudden death leaves several Native American legal decisions up in the air. It also prompts a look at the legacy he leaves on key Native American issues. Primary elections are starting to give shape to the presidential race. Are the candidates’ positions on Indian Country any clearer? We'll take a look at the top headlines along with sports.

The Twitter hashtag #OscarsSoWhite resurfaced with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominations because this is the second year in a row with only white nominees in the top acting categories. Several actors are boycotting the Academy Awards in protest. As we approach Hollywood's biggest night, we'll take a look at how little Native Americans are recognized for their work on the big screen. Has much changed since 1973 when Sacheen Littlefeather took the stage in front of 85-million viewers and declined Marlon Brando's best actor Oscar? We'll ask her.

This month we take time to hear from Navajo author Evangeline Parsons Yazzie about her latest novel, “Her Enemy, Her Love.” It’s the follow up to her first book, “Her Land, Her Love.” We invite you to join us for our February Book of the Month edition where we’ll hear more about the journey she has sent her characters on this time around. The book explores the themes of family, love and hope while during a major moment in a tribe’s history.

Officials recently added bison meat to the list of commodity food items with the Food Distribution Program on Indian reservations. It’s the latest example of the USDA incorporating more traditional and healthier foods on the list that is historically cited as a culprit in Native American obesity, diabetes and other health problems. Are they on the right path? What would you like to see from the program?

Sometimes the way Native Americans wear their hair reflects a specific cultural expression. There may be a little more hair spray and some curls these days, but the tradition is still there. How do you wear your hair? Is it an expression of your cultural identity? And what happens when expression, through our hair, causes controversy?

For people who are overweight, shedding a lot of pounds is a healthy way to go. But it comes with its own burden many people don’t think about. Just mustering the drive to lose weight takes a lot of effort. Then it’s almost like becoming a different person. You look different in the mirror and people treat you differently. What kinds of emotions are involved in the weight loss journey? We’ll hear from individuals who have lost a significant amount of weight with help from a healthy Native American support group. They’ll discuss the physical benefits as well as the unexpected emotional side of their process of weight loss.

Super Tuesday is just around the corner, and the list of viable candidates for each political party continues to dwindle. We begin a new series taking a deeper look at political affiliation in the U.S. Up first: the Democrats. Founded in 1792, the party was divided on slavery but is credited with pushing through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. What does the Democratic Party represent today? What have Democrats accomplished for Native America?