Native America Calling

Marvel-villain-turned-superhero Echo is now streaming on Disney+, giving audiences their first series featuring a Native American comic character, who also happens be deaf with a partially prosthetic leg. Echo is a choice lead opportunity for Menominee and Mohican actress Alaqua Cox. It’s directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and boasts a large Native supporting cast including Chaske Spencer, Devery Jacobs, Graham Greene, and Tantoo Cardinal. We’ll talk with the cast, crew, cultural consultants, and comic book fans about bringing this comic book story to life while also striving for accurate Indigenous representation.

The year 2023 saw substantially more ancestral remains returned to tribal nations than any time since the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) — and more repatriations are in the works. That’s the stunning assessment by the news outlet ProPublica. The progress in complying with federal law after years of resistance follows ProPublica’s own investigation into institutions’ failure to hand over remains and steady pressure by tribes and organizations like the Association on American Indian Affairs. We’ll find out about what it took to overcome decades of resistance by museums, universities, and other institutions and what else needs to be done.

Blackfeet actor Lily Gladstone made history as the first Native American to win a Golden Globe for best actress. She acknowledged the "allies" that supported her win for her role as Mollie in “Killers of the Flower Moon”. In her acceptance speech she spoke Blackfeet and dedicated the award to every "little rez kid, every little urban kid, every little Native kid out there who has a dream". We’ll talk to some of the people inspired by Gladstone’s words and some of the people who inspired her along her artistic journey.

For a lot of people, a car is the second biggest purchase they’ll make. A lot more goes into picking a car than just color and style. We’ll talk with Native car sellers, mechanics, and financers about how to assess what you need in a vehicle and get tips on making decisions based on practical considerations rather than emotional ones. And we’ll get a checklist to help decide when to fix the ride you have and when to ditch it for something newer.

The five members of the new Champions for Change class from the Center for Native American Youth have an inspiring resume already. They have demonstrated leadership in areas like health and wellness, performing arts, science, and policy research. We’ll hear from them and find out what drives their passion to make positive things happen.

Just as the rest of us are putting away holiday lights and sweeping up New Year’s confetti, a tradition like no other gearing up in the Inuit villages of Labrador and Newfoundland, Canada. Every January 6, the Nalujuit come out of the icy sea to visit Inuit children. They have terrifying faces and carry harpoons and other menacing staffs. They give out treats to children they deem good, but chase those who are bad. It’s a beloved Labrador Inuit tradition that’s also documented by an Inuk filmmaker.

A civil rights lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice forced a hotel owner in Rapid City, S.D. to issue a written apology and take other steps after publicly banning Native Americans as hotel guests, but another lawsuit claims the hotel is still turning away Native customers. A business owner in Arizona faced few consequences after a public tirade against Native Americans. Such disparaging actions and public comments aimed at Native Americans are a step backward in the work toward equality and civil discourse. The response to those actions can make a difference going forward. We’ll discuss what is required by individuals and institutions to make things right after publicly disrespecting Native people.

Some of the big news stories from the past year promise to spill over into the months ahead and beyond - from the fallout for #Native #Americans caught up in a massive Medicaid fraud scheme in Arizona to the causes and ramifications of the deadly fires that destroyed Lahaina, Hawaii. Those are two of the big events that Native journalists are following in 2024.

The New Year provides an opportunity to press the reset button and shed those intrusive negative thoughts. Improving our physical and mental health, prioritizing important relationships, and putting the worries of the world in the right context can all make a difference at home or at work. We’ll have helpful strategies and inspiration for everyone from expert self-starters to those working on a major motivation overhaul.

The aurora borealis is more than just a dazzling natural light show for those lucky enough to see it. The northern lights are also a cultural touchstone handed down over millennia. Some tribes understand the Northern Lights as a message from the ancestors. At the same time, Native astrophysicists are working to view the phenomenon with both modern scientific and traditional knowledge.