Native America Calling

Koahnic
  • 4.8 (179)
  • News
  • Updated Daily

Interactive, daily program featuring Native and Indigenous voices, insights, and stories from across the U.S. and around the world.

  1. 21h ago

    Wednesday, October 28, 2026 — Election Day anticipation

    The Trump administration’s intervention in the U.S. Senate race in Alaska indicates the high stakes — and the scrutiny that comes with them — in the November 3 election. Mary Peltola, a Democrat, is one of two candidates hoping to make history as the first Native woman to be elected to the Senate. The Department of Justice is trying to block election results if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses by a narrow margin. Voting rights advocates in Alaska and elsewhere are urging people go to the polls early to help offset any complications or challenges to election results. And Native voter organizations are deploying hundreds of observers to polling locations across the country in anticipation of potential interruptions that include worries about voting machine seizure and immigration raids. We’ll also get an update on severe flooding on and around the Navajo Nation and other tribal land in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Heavy rains displaced hundreds of residents, damaged homes, and washed out critical infrastructure. GUESTS Michelle Sparck (Qissunamiut Tribe of Chevak), director of Get Out the Native Vote Samantha Blencke, senior staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund OJ Semans Sr. (Rosebud Sioux), co-executive director of Four Directions Native Vote Lisa Byrd (Diné), president of the Upper Fruitland Navajo Nation Chapter house   Break 1 Music:  Get Up Stand Up (song) Bailey Wiley, Che Fu, King Kapisi, Laughton Kora, Maisey Rika & Tiki Taane (artist) Break 2 Music: I Saw the Witch Cry (song) Anasazi (artist) I Saw the Witch Cry (album)

  2. 1d ago

    Tuesday, October 27, 2026 — Native Bookshelf: Spooky books for the season

    A mining company unleashes an evil entity as the Arctic village of Chukchi falls into polar night in “It Looks Like You in the Dark“, the debut horror novel from Mathilda Zeller. It’s among several new books by Native writers that are especially fitting during the annual spooky season. Dr. Mat RudeWalker’s story, “Party at the Alvarez Ranch”, is included in the horror anthology, “Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II”. We’ll discuss these titles and others in keeping with the Halloween spirit. GUESTS Dr. Mat RudeWalker (Chickasaw), lecturer at Spelman College Mathilda Zeller (Iñupiaq), author Johnnie Jae (Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw), founder of Red Pop! News   Break 1 Music: Episodio (song) Hocico (artist) Aquí Y Ahora En El Silencio (album) Break 2 Music: I Saw the Witch Cry (song) Anasazi (artist)

  3. 2d ago

    Monday, October 26, 2026 — Analysis finds DOGE cut nearly $470 million from tribal budgets

    A new analysis by the Brookings Institution tallies nearly $470 million in federal funding taken from tribes and Native organizations early last year by the Department of Government Efficiency. Advocates at the Piikani Lodge Health Institute worked hard for years to secure an $8.5 million USDA grant to support local producers in and around the Blackfeet community. DOGE cut those funds before the tribe could use it. The cuts have far-reaching implications. More than half of de-obligated funds were for natural resources and environment work followed by agriculture. The Brookings analysis finds they disproportionately affect Native communities and concludes they violate the government’s trust and treaty obligation. GUESTS Robert Maxim (Mashpee Wampanoag), fellow at the Brookings Institution Kim Paul (Blackfeet Nation), founder and co-executive director of Piikani Lodge Health Institute James Meggesto (Onondaga), partner and the head of Native American practice at Holland & Knight   Break 1 Music: Intertribal (song) Blackfoot Confederacy (artist) Confederacy Style (album) Break 2 Music: I Saw the Witch Cry (song) Anasazi (artist)

  4. 5d ago

    Friday, October 23, 2026 — 60 years of Alaska Native advocacy at AFN and assessing Typhoon Halong flooding a year later

    The Alaska Federation of Natives was formed by tribal leaders in 1966 to protect land and preserve tribal governance. Now, at the 60th convention, tribal leaders and members from across the state gather to discuss current issues of politics, sovereignty, and culture. This year’s central issues include subsistence fishing and hunting, the rising cost of living, climate change, and voting rights and participation. We’ll speak with a longtime Native journalist about these top issues and how they might affect the upcoming midterm elections. About 800 people from rural villages in Western Alaska are still living in Anchorage, a year after being displaced by powerful storms leftover from Typhoon Halong. At the time, the event left two people dead, caused the mass evacuation of several villages, and destroyed hundreds of homes and community structures. With the slow pace of recovery, evacuees contend with not knowing when they’ll be able to return. We’ll hear more about the aftermath of Typhoon Halong. GUESTS Joaqlin Estus (Tlingit), longtime journalist and former correspondent at ICT Noah Attie (Yup’ik), veteran and elder from Kipnuk Alice Rearden (Yup’ik), cultural education manager at the Calista Education and Culture State Rep. Nellie Jimmie (Yup’ik), member of the Alaska House of Representatives representing District 38 Scott Nelson, telecommunications engineer with Alaska Emergency Management   Break 1 Music: Turtle Island Reggae (song) Quese IMC & Cempoalli 20 (artist) Osahwuh (album) Break 2 Music: Ponca War Dance Song 1 (song) Albert Waters, Alice Cook, Harry Buffalohead, Joe H. Rush, Lamont Brown, Louis Yellow Horse, Lucy C. F. Ribs, Russell Rush (2), Stella Yellow Horse, Sylvester Warrior (artist) War Dance Songs Of The Ponca – Vol. I (album)

  5. Oct 22

    Thursday, October 22, 2026 — Subsistence fishing a top issue at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention

    Declining salmon numbers are threatening the way of life for Alaska Natives, according to a report by the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), the largest Native organization in Alaska. And report findings are similar across regions: concern about the future of food security in rural villages, frustration with state and federal management of waterways, and difficulty maintaining sacred traditions. Many residents also face fishing restrictions on rivers like the Kuskokwim and Yukon. It’s a key issue for Native voters to weigh during midterm elections. We’re broadcasting live from the AFN Convention in Anchorage. GUESTS Charlie Wright (Athabascan), secretary and treasurer for Tanana Chiefs Conference Frank Grunert (Native Village of Chignik Lagoon), fisher   Break 1 Music: American Indian Movement Song (song) Blackfire (artist) [Silence] is a Weapon [Double disc] (album) Break 2 Music: Ponca War Dance Song 1 (song) Albert Waters, Alice Cook, Harry Buffalohead, Joe H. Rush, Lamont Brown, Louis Yellow Horse, Lucy C. F. Ribs, Russell Rush (2), Stella Yellow Horse, Sylvester Warrior (artist) War Dance Songs Of The Ponca – Vol. I (album)

  6. Oct 21

    Wednesday, October 21, 2026 — Alaska Native advocates cite shortcomings in addressing MMIP crisis

    Hundreds of Native people from across the state will discuss issues such as declining salmon populations, voting rights, and education funding at this year’s Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Anchorage. For some, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis remains a top priority. In recent years, law enforcement agencies in Alaska have worked to improve protocols for handling missing persons cases and even established a MMIP Review Commission. But some Indigenous advocates say critical issues, like how cases are classified, how homicide cases are investigated, and how jurisdiction is determined, persist in creating obstacles for justice. We’ll hear from Native MMIP advocates about new and longstanding challenges. GUESTS Charlene Aqpik Apok (Iñupiaq), executive director of Data For Indigenous Justice Michael Livingston (Unangax̂), retired Alaska Native police officer Deilah Johnson (Iñupiaq), tribal resources director and council member for the Village of Solomon Shaun Griswold (Laguna, Jemez, and Zuni Pueblo), reporter with Buffalo’s Fire   Break 1 Music: Water by Jim Pepper [Arranged by Jhoely Garay] (song) Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band (artist) Live at Joe’s Pub, NYC on January 13th, 2024 (performance) Break 2 Music: Ponca War Dance Song 1 (song) Albert Waters, Alice Cook, Harry Buffalohead, Joe H. Rush, Lamont Brown, Louis Yellow Horse, Lucy C. F. Ribs, Russell Rush (2), Stella Yellow Horse, Sylvester Warrior (artist) War Dance Songs Of The Ponca – Vol. I (album)

  7. Oct 20

    Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — Alaska Native leadership and land rights advocacy through the generations

    In 1966, as Alaska Native leaders worked to secure their lands, Emil Notti (Koyukon Athabascan) helped form the Alaska Federation of Natives. Notti became its first president and later served as a key negotiator of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which was passed nearly 55 years ago. He also held various roles in government and business. At AFN’s 60th anniversary, we’ll speak with Notti, now 93, about his work. We’ll also speak with Miaraq, Warren Jones (Gwich’in, Yup’ik, and Iñupiaq), an accomplished writer and philosopher, whose work focuses on the Cicumpolar North. Jones is also a longtime advocate for Native subsistence and land rights. GUESTS Emil Notti (Koyukon Athabascan), founding president of the Alaska Federation of Natives Warren Jones (Gwich’in, Yup’ik and Iñupiaq), philosopher, writer, and Native rights advocate Wallace Ungwiluk (Yupik), 2026 AFN Roger Lang Youth Leadership awardee   Break 1 Music: Rise Up (song) Big Every Time (artist) Universitile (album) Break 2 Music: Ponca War Dance Song 1 (song) Albert Waters, Alice Cook, Harry Buffalohead, Joe H. Rush, Lamont Brown, Louis Yellow Horse, Lucy C. F. Ribs, Russell Rush (2), Stella Yellow Horse, Sylvester Warrior (artist) War Dance Songs Of The Ponca – Vol. I (album)

  8. Oct 19

    Monday, October 19, 2026 — Native in the Spotlight: Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly

    As recorder of Pima County in Arizona, Gabriella Cázares-Kelly (Tohono O’odham) is responsible for administering early voting and keeping track of more than 600,000 voter registrations. While in office during the past six years, she’s helped make voting more accessible to tribal members and rural communities, including recently installing eight new drop-off ballot boxes across the county. Even before she ran for office, she was helping people with understanding the voting process and advocating for voting access on the Tohono O’odham reservation. Cázares-Kelly is an educator-turned-politician and our October Native in the Spotlight.   Break 1 Music: Indigenous Life (song) Fiji (artist) Indigenous Life (album) Break 2 Music: Ponca War Dance Song 1 (song) Albert Waters, Alice Cook, Harry Buffalohead, Joe H. Rush, Lamont Brown, Louis Yellow Horse, Lucy C. F. Ribs, Russell Rush (2), Stella Yellow Horse, Sylvester Warrior (artist) War Dance Songs Of The Ponca – Vol. I (album)

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About

Interactive, daily program featuring Native and Indigenous voices, insights, and stories from across the U.S. and around the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Koahnic
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Koahnic Broadcast Corporation - All rights reserved - Contact nola@nv1.org for permission
  • Show Website
    Native America Calling

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