Native America Calling

Before he was dubbed “The Hurricane” by Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee, Brian Jackson (Cherokee, Muscogee, and Seminole) started out making animal balloons for a community church event. That small beginning has led him to breaking world records and traveling the world. He holds 12 Guinness World Records for blowing up balloons, exploding hot water bottles, and lifting a car off the ground — all with his own breath. His accomplishments helped him turn around his life that was headed down the wrong path and included an arrest for dealing drugs. We’ll talk to Brian Jackson about his motivation for breaking records, his commitment to culture, and his belief in second chances.

A jury convicted Brian Steven Smith on all counts in the murders of two Alaska Native women, Kathleen Jo Henry and Veronica Abouchuk. The trial, lasting just over two weeks, made international headlines, at least in part because the killer recorded graphic video of one of the murders. The trial exposed ongoing vulnerabilities and inequities Native women in Alaska cope with, and dredges up memories of past trauma Native residents face on a disproportionate basis.

The University of Wisconsin system takes in more than $1 million a year from lands given them by the federal government a century and a half ago. They are among the institutions that reap what a new investigation by the online publication Grist says is more than $2.2 billion dollars in 2022. The ongoing source of money comes from mining, drilling, farming, and other uses on lands granted by the U.S. Government to promote both continuing education and a policy of removing Native American possession and use of that land. Any past promised benefits to tribes and their citizens are falling short.

President Joe Biden’s age in relation to his ability to do his job is a topic making front page news with questions about his memory, cognitive function, and physical stamina. At 81, President Biden is not that much older than his presumptive Republican election opponent, 77-year-old Donald Trump. Native Americans have a pronounced respect for the wisdom of elders. We’ll explore Native voters’ perceptions of age for elected officials as well as ways Native traditions for elders can inform the larger society’s views on aging.

"Aloha" is a more than a word for Native Hawaiians — and its elevated importance in how people approach their own lives and wellbeing is invoked in one of society’s most controversial debates. The Hawaii Supreme Court upheld that state’s restrictions on carrying guns in public, in part saying "the spirit of Aloha" informs how the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is interpreted locally. How the legal argument will play out is anyone’s guess. We’ll get guidance on what the true meaning of "Aloha" and how else it informs daily Hawaiian life.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is making kiosks available in key locations so tribal members can access important information for their judicial and law enforcement systems. It’s part of a multi-phase effort to make their official procedures more transparent and accessible. They plan on ultimately providing digital access to their entire law library, court decisions and other documents that improve citizens’ understanding and engagement with government functions. We’ll talk with tribal representatives from Saint Regis and other tribes putting a priority on transparency and openness.

The film professionals who perform stunts do more than just fall down. They are highly skilled and physically fit experts who make movie stars look good. Native stunt actors also fill a sought-after niche and are able to contribute expertise that takes the action in films up a notch.

Thousands of Native American Catholics are entering the 40-day time of reflection and sacrifice known as Lent. Catholicism draws criticism for its connection to oppressive Spanish colonization and for the church’s role in boarding school abuses. At the same time the religion is a tradition—not to mention comfort—embraced by generations of observant Native Americans. On the holy day of Ash Wednesday, we’ll hear from Native Catholics about the intersection of their faith and their culture.

It would be hard to find a legal victory any more important than the ruling named after federal judge George Hugo Boldt in 1974. It was the turning point for the fight led by Nisqually activist Billy Frank, Jr., initially affirming the treaty fishing rights for 20 tribes in western Washington State. But it provided the basis for a far-reaching transformation of Indian Law and natural resource management.

The National Congress of American Indians’ newly-elected president Mark Macarro delivers his first address, highlighting the accomplishments and challenges of Native nations. His account comes at the start of a presidential election year. It’s also a time when tribes are seeing momentum for returned land as well as challenges to sovereignty from state and federal powers. We’ll hear an excerpt from the annual address and get some real world perspective on the State of Indian Nations.