Since the technology was first made publicly available in the U.S. more than a century ago, radio has endured repeated predictions of its demise. Even with the explosion of digital streaming and on-demand podcasts, the nation’s top ratings firm finds at least 82% of Americans listen to traditional, terrestrial radio each week. We’ll mark National Radio Day by talking to Native people who have a passion for the medium, including the host of the longest-running Native radio show in Texas, a radio reporter who covers Indigenous affairs in Oklahoma, and an Alaska teenager who built his own internet radio station in his bedroom.

GUESTS

Sarah Liese (Turtle Mountain Chippewa and Diné), Indigenous Affairs reporter at KOSU

Albert Old Crow (Southern Cheyenne), Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal council coordinator and host of “Beyond Bows and Arrows”

 Colton Prince (Athabascan and Iñupiaq), owner of 98.5 Music Alaska

Bob Petersen (Yup’ik), network manager for Native Voice One (NV1)

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)

Listen to an extended interview NAC producer Sol Traverso did with Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) about securing funding for 35 tribal radio stations before the passing of the recent rescission package:

Break 1 Music: Trick Song (song) Battle River (artist) Hard Times (album)

Break 2 Music: Real Things (song) Joe H Henry (artist) Real Things (album)

Full disclosure: Native Voice One is the distribution division of Koahnic Broadcasting Corporation, Native America Calling’s parent organization.