Native America Calling

Connecting with Native voters works best when the message comes from a Native source. In the final days before the election, the campaigns are working at a feverish pace in places like Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, and North Carolina, deploying specialists to connect with Native voters. We’ll hear from some of those specialists about what you might expect to hear in the final stretch of the campaigns, and what messages are resonating most.

GUESTS

Julie Dye (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians), co-founder and secretary of the Anishinaabek Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party

John Cummings (Lumbee), chairman of the Robeson County Board of Commissioners

Francine Bradley-Arthur (Navajo), co-founder of the Freedom House in St. Michaels, Ariz. and retired police lieutenant

Arvina Martin (Ho-Chunk and Stockbridge-Munsee), executive director for Emerge Wisconsin

Break 1 Music: Unity (song) Native Roots (artist) Most High (album)

Break 2 Music: Creator (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

The U.S. Navy is scheduled to formally apologize to Alaska Native residents of Angoon, Alaska, 142 years after they bombarded the village. The Navy also just apologized to the residents of Kake for a similar assault some years earlier. Both deadly assaults on the villages came after the deaths of Tlingit residents prompting a series of escalating actions. The shellings occurred during a time of tense interactions between Alaska Natives, the U.S. military, and outside corporate interests. Navy and village leaders alike say the apologies will help healing these many years later.

GUESTS

Judith Dax̱ootsú Ramos (Tlingit), professor of Northwest Coast Arts at University of Alaska Southeast

Shgen George (Tlingit), Chilkat weaver and retired teacher

Esther Reese (Tlingit), tribal administrator for Wrangell Cooperative Association

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Break 1 Music: Siigaay Gid uu Dii Iijang [Ocean Child I Am] (song) Khu.éex’ (artist) Siy​á​adlan (album)

Break 2 Music: Creator (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

There is a decidedly imperialistic thrust to the Civilization video games. That’s why Shawnee tribal leaders were wary at first when game developers approached them about including famed Shawnee chief Tecumseh in the next version of Civilization. But after four years, the collaboration has introduced Shawnee language and culture and a new direction for the Civilization franchise. We’ll hear about this intersection of Native representation and video games and explore some new uses for video games.

GUESTS

Chief Ben Barnes (Shawnee), chief of the Shawnee Tribe, board member of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, and chairman of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma

Dillon Dean (Shawnee), actor and voices Tecumseh in Civilization 7

Anangookwe Hermes-Roach (Bad River Band of Ojibwe), co-director and game developer for Reclaim!

Dr. Lee Francis IV aka Dr. IndigiNerd (Laguna Pueblo), CEO of A Tribe Called Geek

Break 1 Music: Shawnee Stomp Dance (song) Little Axe Singers (artist) Traditional Voices: Historic Recordings of Traditional Native American Music (album)

Break 2 Music: Creator (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

Native land is the medium Cherokee journalist and writer Rebecca Nagle uses to convey the long fight for justice and accountability. By the Fire We Carry traces a detailed history from before the Trail of Tears to the current arguments in the halls of the U.S. Supreme Court, as Native Americans fight to retain what was always inherently theirs and win back what was taken by force and fraud by the U.S. Government. Nagel is the creator of the acclaimed This Land podcast that found a broad audience for the complex topics of Native sovereignty and jurisdiction, and the forces constantly working to dismantle them.

GUEST

Rebecca Nagle (member of the Cherokee Nation), author of By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-long Fight for Justice on Native Land

Break 1 Music: Ghost [Stripped] (song) Sierra Spirit (artist)

Break 2 Music: Creator (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

Duke Redbird’s (Saugeen Ojibway First Nation) activism initially rose from hardship. He turned to writing to express his frustration after encountering racism and discrimination in school. His writing led him to a series of celebrated published poetry collections. He developed a number of artistic disciplines and professional skills. He’s a filmmaker, visual artist, actor, and educator. He remains active as a voice in the Sultans of String band. We’ll hear about his work and extraordinary life.

GUEST

Dr. Duke Redbird (Saugeen First Nation), elder, poet, author, scholar, hip-hop artist, and educator

Break 1 Music: Our Mother the Earth [Feat. Dr. Duke Redbird] (song) Sultans of String (artist)

Break 2 Music: Creator (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

Both presidential campaigns are pouring resources into Arizona, a swing state where Native American votes could make a substantial difference in the outcome of the election. But it’s also a state emblematic of laws — proof of citizenship, limits on ballot collecting — that voting advocates say hinders or discourages Native voter participation. As it is, a glitch in the state’s citizenship verification methods puts the votes of some 218,000 registered voters of all races and political persuasions in jeopardy.

Also on the campaign trail, an incumbent Idaho state lawmaker angrily told a Nez Perce challenger — the only person of color in the race — “go back where you came from.” Candidate Trish Carter-Goodheart said she was shaken and worried about her safety. We’ll hear from Carter-Goodheart about the event.

GUESTS

Jaynie Parrish (Diné), executive director and founder of Arizona Native Vote

Gabriella Cázares-Kelly (member of the Tohono O’odham Nation), Pima County recorder

Jacqueline De Leon (Isleta Pueblo), senior attorney for the Native American Rights Fund

Trish Carter-Goodheart (citizen of the Nez Perce Tribe), Idaho district 6 House seat A

Break 1 Music: Oshki Manitou (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

Break 2 Music: Butterfly Wings (song) Midnight Sparrows (artist) Born in the City (album)