Native America Calling

01/15/2026

The U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has prompted questions about what comes next. No one is more concerned about the answer to that question than Venezuela’s Wayúu people and the other Indigenous tribes that make up as much as 3% of the population. They are no fans of Maduro, enduring the same oppressive tactics as other residents, contributing to disproportionate socio-economic hurdles. They are also suffering at the hands of both legal and illegal mining operations. What will President Donald Trump’s stated interests in gas and mineral development mean going forward?

GUESTS

Alicia Moncada (Wayúu), director of advocacy and communications for Cultural Survival

Carlos Roa, journalist and editor for IQ Latino and a member and spokesperson with Asociación de Periodistas Venezolanos en el Extranjero / Association of Venezuelan Journalists Abroad (Apevex)

Alejandro Velasco, professor of Latin American history at New York University

Laura Botero, Ph.D student at The University of Texas at Austin

The U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has prompted questions about what comes next. No one is more concerned about the answer to that question than Venezuela’s Wayúu people and the other Indigenous tribes that make up as much as 3% of the population. They are no fans of Maduro,...

01/14/2026

A recent decision by the U.S. Treasury Department is a major win for tribes. For the first time, tribes are on the same level as states when it comes to determining how tribal services are taxed. Advocates call the decision “historic” and say it is a significant breakthrough in tribal sovereignty. Not only will it allow tribes to keep hundreds of millions of dollars more per year, it removes the tax filing hassle for small contractors who work with tribes. We’ll hear about the decade-long push to change what is called the General Welfare Exclusion and what it means for tribal economic development.

GUESTS

Chief Lynn Malerba (The Mohegan Tribe), Former U.S. Treasurer

Lt. Gov. Hershel Gorham (Cheyenne and Arapaho)

OJ Semans Sr. (Rosebud Sioux), co-executive director of Four Directions Vote

Scott Skaro (Standing Rock Sioux), board member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) and financial aid director for United Tribes Technical College

A recent decision by the U.S. Treasury Department is a major win for tribes. For the first time, tribes are on the same level as states when it comes to determining how tribal services are taxed. Advocates call the decision “historic” and say it is a significant breakthrough in tribal sovereignt...

01/13/2026

Organizers in Chicago just broke ground on a 45-unit affordable housing project specifically for Native Americans that is scheduled to open this year. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians just cut the ribbon in October for 40 new affordable housing units in Salem, Oreg. And Oakland, Calif. is working on 76 new homes for low-income Native Americans attached to a Native health facility. The surge in projects specifically geared toward urban Native Americans is meant to offset barriers that disproportionately affect their ability to keep a roof over their heads. We'll hear about the factors fueling the surge in new affordable housing projects in various cities.

GUESTS

Shelly Tucciarelli (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), executive director of Visionary Ventures NFP Corp. and vice president of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative

Sky Waters (Osage), community development director at the Native American Youth and Family Center

Anthony Guzman (Northern Ute), chief cultural officer at the Native American Health Center

Bryan Singer (Crow), entrepreneur development specialist for the Montana Department of Commerce Indian Country Economic Development programs and member of the Mountain Shadow Association board

Organizers in Chicago just broke ground on a 45-unit affordable housing project specifically for Native Americans that is scheduled to open this year. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians just cut the ribbon in October for 40 new affordable housing units in Salem, Oreg. And Oakland, Calif. is w...

01/12/2026

BREAKING NEWS: Mary Peltola, former representative in the U.S. House where she became the first Alaska Native member of Congress, announced she is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026.

Stay tuned to National Native News for updates from our KNBA 90.3 FM News team on the ground in Alaska.

01/12/2026

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are accused of forcefully dragging a Native American man from car and detaining him during the increasing tensions in Minneapolis, Minn. More than 2,000 ICE agents and other federal officers descended on the city in what the Trump administration insists is an immigration enforcement action. At least five Native Americans have been detained, several others have had confrontations with ICE agents. The crackdown is roundly condemned by local and state community leaders. We’ll talk to some of those caught up in the action and what more might be in store elsewhere.

We'll also hear from the leader of Virginia's Rappahannock Tribe about their opposition to a plan by county officials to use 9,000,000 gallons of water from the tribe's namesake river for a proposed data center, a plan that tribal leaders say was drafted without proper consultation.

GUESTS

Little Crow Bellecourt (Bad River), executive director of Indigenous Protector Movement

Shawntia Sosa-Clara (Red Lake Nation descendant), aunt to Jose Ramirez

Amelia Schafer (Brothertown Indian Nation descendant), North Central Bureau correspondent for Indian Country Today (ICT) News

Chief Anne Richardson (The Rappahannock Tribe)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are accused of forcefully dragging a Native American man from car and detaining him during the increasing tensions in Minneapolis, Minn. More than 2,000 ICE agents and other federal officers descended on the city in what the Trump administration insis...

01/09/2026

The celebrations of the country’s independence are not the same for Native Americans. As a year of events, re-enactments, seminars, and commemorative coin creation gets under way to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, many Native Americans are asking where they stand in the historical narrative. Some states have developed dialogues with tribes as they plan out the year’s events. Some tribes have a more direct connection to the resulting Revolutionary War than others. We’ll get an idea what Native citizens are anticipating as the country collectively honors what it calls “the Founding Fathers”.

GUESTS

Darren Bonaparte (Akwesasne Mohawk), director of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s tribal historic preservation office

Andrei Jacobs (Orutsararmuit Native Council), former director of Tribal Partnerships for America250, freelance consultant, and content creator

Robert Lilligren (White Earth Ojibwe Nation), chair of the
MUID Community Group of Minneapolis and president and CEO of the Native American Community Development Institute - NACDI

The celebrations of the country’s independence are not the same for Native Americans. As a year of events, re-enactments, seminars, and commemorative coin creation gets under way to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, many Native Americans are asking where they sta...

01/08/2026

Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne) is remembered as an effective congressional leader who passionately advocated for Native American issues. He served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Among other things, he was instrumental in the political advocacy for establishing the National Museum of the American Indians (NMAI).

Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho) was a national voice in support of Native American arts. A large part of his career was as a police sketch artist. He also headed the Indian Arts and Crafts Board for a decade. A former U.S. Marine, he was an advocate for military veterans. His design for a Native American Veterans Memorial was chosen and built on the NMAI campus in 2022.

GUESTS

Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee), president of the Morning Star Institute and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Rick West (Cheyenne and Arapaho), founding director and director emeritus of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

Shanan Campbell (Northern Cheyenne), founder and CEO of Sorrel Sky Gallery and daughter of Ben Nighthorse Campbell

Gina Pratt (Muscogee and Yuchi), wife of Harvey Pratt

Nathan Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho), artist and son of Harvey Pratt

Dee Cordry, former Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and author of "Children of White Thunder"

Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne) is remembered as an effective congressional leader who passionately advocated for Native American issues. He served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Among other things, he was instrumental in the political advocacy for establi...

01/08/2026

The U.S. Postal Service just implemented a seemingly minor rule that is worrying Native American voting rights advocates. They and others say it is among a number of changes that add to the barriers Native voters face getting their ballots counted come this November. The new rule changes when mail, including mail-in ballots, are postmarked, shortening the time frame for when the ballots are deemed valid. It applies most directly to voters in states with large Native populations, including California, Arizona, and New Mexico along with nearly a dozen others. We’ll talk with Native voting rights advocates about this rule change and other challenges to the Native voting access in 2026.

GUESTS

Jacqueline de León (Isleta Pueblo), senior staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund

OJ Semans Sr. (Rosebud Sioux), co-executive director of Four Directions Vote

Jonnette Paddy (Navajo), communications associate for Indigenous Voices of Nevada

Michelle Sparck (Qissunamiut Tribe of Chevak), director of Get Out The Native Vote

The U.S. Postal Service just implemented a seemingly minor rule that is worrying Native American voting rights advocates. They and others say it is among a number of changes that add to the barriers Native voters face getting their ballots counted come this November. The new rule changes when mail,....

01/06/2026

Anishinaabe call the cluster of seven stars in the winter sky Bugonagiizhig, or “Hole in the Sky”. Navajos say it is Dilyéhé, or “Sparkling.” And Senecas say it is the Seven Dancers. On conventional Western star maps, the cluster is known as the Pleiades, a name that refers to Greek mythology. Prominent during winter months, these stars bookmark the winter season and are important symbols for many tribes’ origin stories. We’ll hear about those stories and the teachings connected to the Pleiades.

GUESTS

Wilfred Buck (Opaskwayak Cree Nation), knowledge keeper

Michael Waasegiizhig Price (Wikwemikong First Nation), Anishinaabe culture and language keeper

Cal Nez (Navajo), fine arts artist and graphic designer, Navajo spiritualist

Jamie Jacobs (Tonawanda Seneca), managing curator for the Rock Foundation collections at the Rochester Museum & Science Center

Anishinaabe call the cluster of seven stars in the winter sky Bugonagiizhig, or “Hole in the Sky”. Navajos say it is Dilyéhé or “Sparkling.” And Senecas say it is the Seven Dancers. On conventional Western star maps, the cluster is known as the Pleiades, a name that refers to Greek mytholo...

01/05/2026

Elaine Miles (Cayuse and Nez Perce) didn’t seek out her breakout role as the humorously deadpan Lingít office manager Marilyn Whirlwind in the hit TV show, "Northern Exposure", but after she was cast and became a beloved addition to the show, acting was her vocation from then on. She had a hilarious presence in the classic movie, "Smoke Signals", and just appeared on the acclaimed HBO series, "The Last of Us". Behind the scenes, Miles is an advocate for Indigenous rights and a steady voice of support for Native veterans. She is our January Native In The Spotlight.

Elaine Miles (Cayuse and Nez Perce) didn’t seek out her breakout role as the humorously deadpan Tlinget office manager Marilyn Whirlwind in the hit TV show, "Northern Exposure", but after she was cast and became a beloved addition to the show, acting was her vocation from then on. She had a hilari...

01/02/2026

Whether you view the New Year as a good time for a hard reboot or just a few tweaks here and there, a few words of encouragement can’t hurt. A lot of people see January as the time to launch a new exercise routine or start being a more patient parent. It doesn’t necessarily take an established place of worship or hours in a quiet room to engage with your own internal strengths. We have a panel of experts in mindfulness and using one’s own cultural connections to help stay on a more positive and meaningful path.

GUESTS

D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas (Odawa), motivational storyteller, host of the PBS special, “Discovering your Warrior Spirit”, and author of “Warrior Within” from Penguin Random House

Michael Yellow Bird (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara), professor at the faculty of social work at the University of Manitoba

Eduardo Duran (Apache, Tewa, and Lakota), psychologist and author of “Healing the Soul Wound”

Whether you view the New Year as a good time for a hard reboot or just a few tweaks here and there, a few words of encouragement can’t hurt. A lot of people see January as the time to launch a new exercise routine or start being a more patient parent. It doesn’t necessarily take an established p...

12/31/2025

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