Native America Calling

Koahnic
  • 4.8 (177)
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  • Updated Daily

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

  1. 1d ago

    Wednesday, October 7, 2026 — Native Playlist: Jeremy Dutcher and Mali Obomsawin

    Composer, singer, and ethnomusicologist Jeremy Dutcher (Wolastoqiyik) is taking his music on an international tour that includes performing in Taiwan and Japan with renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Dutcher’s music continues to draws fans around the world following the release of two acclaimed albums in his Native language, featuring his distinctive tenor voice. His latest album, “Motewolonuwok“, won the Polaris Music Prize. We’ll catch up with him about his latest projects, including the soundtrack to the film “Sk+te’kmujue’katik” (“The Place of Ghosts”), a Mi’kmaq supernatural thriller that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. “Automatic” is the upcoming second solo album from musician Mali Obomsawin (Odanak First Nation). Obomsawin pushes her avant-garde jazz and experimental sound further than she did on her debut album, “Sweet Tooth”. The new album is bold, explosive, colorful, and ambient with a haunting closing track. We’ll discuss the new album as well as her work with the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band, her rock-shoegaze band Deerlady, and her attempt to “make a record institutions can’t own.”   Break 1 Music: Pomawsuwinuwok Wonakiyawolotuwok (song) Jeremy Dutcher (artist) Motewolonuwok (album) Break 2 Music: War Dance Song (song) Sander Heath, Ed Spino, Byton Patt, Nathan Jim, Duane Miller, and Rudy Clements (artist) 16 Songs by Warm Springs Confederated Tribes (album) Track 1 – Take My Hand (song) Jeremy Dutcher (artist) Motewolonuwok (album) Track 2 – Automatic (song) Mali Obomsawin (artist) Automatic [release date Oct 16, 2026] (album) Track 3 – Malian (song) Mali Obomsawin (artist) Automatic [release date Oct 16, 2026] (album)

  2. 2d ago

    Tuesday, October 6, 2026 — What removing questions about race from the U.S. Census means for Native Americans

    The Trump administration’s proposal to remove questions about a person’s race for the U.S. Census is sparking alarm among tribal leaders, voting rights advocates, and social service providers. They say it will significantly impede tribes’ political representation at the state and federal levels and reduce access to federal resources, adding up to a serious erosion of tribal sovereignty. Counting the racial makeup of the country has been a function of the constitutionally mandated decennial census since it started in 1790. The Census Bureau proposes changing it to help improve response rates. We’ll hear what changes are potentially in store from the U.S. Census and what the implications are for Native residents. GUESTS Gwynne Evans-Lomayesva (Hopi), Ph.D candidate in sociology and demography at the University of Pennsylvania C. Matthew Snipp (Cherokee), professor of sociology at Stanford University and the director of the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity Larry Wright Jr. (Ponca), executive director for the National Congress of American Indians Aaron Payment (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), tribal councilman, former chairperson for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and a member of the executive board for the National Congress of American Indians   Break 1 Music: Hopi Basket Dance (song) David Taliewiftema, Hopi Singers from Second Mesa (artist) Traditional Voices: Historic Recordings of Traditional Native American Music (album) Break 2 Music: War Dance Song (song) Sander Heath, Ed Spino, Byton Patt, Nathan Jim, Duane Miller, and Rudy Clements (artist) 16 Songs by Warm Springs Confederated Tribes (album)

  3. 3d ago

    Monday, October 5, 2026 — One tribe breaks from the pack on prediction markets

    At a time when tribes across the country are working to shut down prediction market companies, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana is embracing them by launching its own mobile app with the help of industry giant, Kalshi. The Tunica-Biloxi chairman says his tribe is “creating a new source of economic opportunity and doing it on its own terms.” That is decidedly counter to the other tribes that argue the prediction market platforms pose a direct threat, siphoning off gaming revenue, and sidestepping the strictly regulated federal laws governing Indian casinos. We’ll hear about the plans for the new app — and potential hurdles. We’ll also hear from entrepreneur, writer, and computer programmer Miguel Douglas (Puyallup Tribe of Indians) about his work to improve visibility for Native-owned businesses with his latest app, Nativepreneurs. GUESTS Marshall Pierite (Tunica-Biloxi), chairman and CEO of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Chez Oxendine (Lumbee), staff writer for Tribal Business News Miguel Douglas (Puyallup), developer of the Nativepreneurs app, chief technology officer at Bella & Belle, and editor-in-chief of American Indian Republic   Break 1 Music: Fire On the Bayou (song) Big Chief Alfred Doucette (artist) Rollin’ Wit Da Legends & Marie Laveau (album) Break 2 Music: War Dance Song (song) Sander Heath, Ed Spino, Byton Patt, Nathan Jim, Duane Miller, and Rudy Clements (artist) 16 Songs by Warm Springs Confederated Tribes (album)

  4. 6d ago

    Friday, October 2, 2026 — Indigenous design as visual sovereignty

    From the original Cherokee syllabary to banners waved by Native American demonstrators, graphic works by Native people carry a thread through the centuries that operate within their own design framework. A new book and accompanying gallery exhibition, “Designed to be Red”, documents and celebrates that thread of visual works by Native designers that exert agency and authority over their own stories. The project compiles examples of purposeful visual rhetoric by Native Americans meant to teach, persuade, resist, and share within an environment that so often dismisses Native input. We’ll talk with Native designers about the project and the unique role Native designs play. GUESTS Brian Johnson (Monacan Indian Nation), partner of Polymode design studio Heidi Brandow (Kanaka Maoli and Diné), editor of “Designed to be Red”, artist, and curator Dr. Jessica Moore Harjo (Otoe-Missouria, Osage, Pawnee, and Sac & Fox). interdisciplinary artist and graphic designer Kevin Coochwytewa (Isleta Pueblo and Hopi), freelance graphic designer and creative director   Break 1 Music: A Turtle’s Honour Song [NDN Jazz] (song) Mwalim (artist) Break 2 Music: Suquamish Drum Songs 2015 (song) Sacred Water Canoe Family (artist)

  5. Oct 1

    Thursday, October 1, 2026 — Indigenous leaders take on organized attempts to downplay residential school narrative

    At a time when Canada is reflecting on the painful history of residential schools, Indigenous leaders are having to speak out against organized efforts to minimize the harms inflicted on generations of Indigenous children. Just days before Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, white nationalists gathered near the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia. The incident drew condemnation from Prime Minister Mark Carney and First Nations leaders. After witnessing what they say is an increase in sophisticated misleading public messages, Canadian elected officials are considering legislation to ban residential school denialism. We’ll explore the trend to minimize and distort an era of forced assimilation of subsequent abuse of children and the challenges for addressing it. GUESTS Nikki Fraser (Secwépemc), Acting Kúkwpi7 of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Pamela Palmater (Mi’kmaq), lawyer, professor, author, speaker and podcaster Eleanore Sunchild (Cree from Thunderchild First Nation), Indigenous human rights attorney and the owner of Sunchild Law   Break 1 Music: Healing Song (song) Red Hawk Medicine Drum (artist) New Beginnings (album) Break 2 Music: Suquamish Drum Songs 2015 (song) Sacred Water Canoe Family (artist)

  6. Sep 30

    Wednesday, September 30, 2026 — The Menu: Blue corn children’s book and a new Native pastry shop

    “The Blue Corn Kitchen” by Alana Yazzie (Diné) gives young reader’s a glimpse of the traditional corn-based Navajo foods many Navajo grandmothers have stocked in their kitchens. It’s the latest project from the self-made, Navajo lifestyle and food blogger who also goes by The Fancy Navajo. Howdy Cakes is a new pastry and cake business by Diné culinarian, Liz McKenzie. It’s in partnership with a start-up mini food hall in Albuquerque. And, on the National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, we’ll take a look at the negative effects the institutions had on Native foodways. GUESTS Liz McKenzie (Diné), culinarian and cake artist; owner of Howdy Cakes, owner of Prickly Foods, and partner for La Carinderia Alana Yazzie (Diné), creator and owner of the lifestyle and food blog, The Fancy Navajo, and author of “The Blue Corn Kitchen” A-dae Romero-Briones (Cochiti and Kiowa), senior vice president of research and strategy for First Nations Development Institute   Break 1 Music: Yacca Banana Song [Two-Step Dance Song] (song) Sweethearts of Navajoland (artist) From the Heart of Diné Nation Traditional Songs of the Navajo (album) Break 2 Music: Suquamish Drum Songs 2015 (song) Sacred Water Canoe Family (artist)

  7. Sep 29

    Tuesday, September 29, 2026 — Finding success through the art of contemporary horsemanship

    Named a “legendary Lakota horseman” by the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Fred Ecoffey (Oglala Lakota) has enjoyed a celebrated 68-year career as a jockey. After winning his debut race in 1957, Ecoffey went on to compete in more than 17,500 races, earning inductions into both the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame and the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. Ecoffey, 88, has retired from professional racing, though he still helps one of his daughters with her barrel racing from time to time. Today, a new generation of young Native jockeys is taking up the mantle and finding success on the racetrack. Among them is Talliyah Timentwa (Colville Tribes), a two-time national Indian Relay champion who made her debut at Washington state’s Emerald Downs racecourse last year. We’ll speak with Native horse riders about cultivating the art of horsemanship across disciplines, from relay races and jockeying to the sport of dressage. GUESTS Fred Ecoffey (Oglala Lakota), retired jockey, elder, and “legendary Lakota horseman” Talliyah Timentwa (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation), amateur jockey and two-time Indian Relay champion Kate Nelson (Tlingit), journalist and amateur dressage rider   Break 1 Music: My Horse (song) Courtney Yellow Fat (artist) The Lost Songs of Sitting Bull (album) Break 2 Music: Suquamish Drum Songs 2015 (song) Sacred Water Canoe Family (artist)

  8. Sep 25

    Friday, September 25, 2026 — Native Bookshelf: ‘The Birthing Tree’ by Amanda Peters and ‘How Settlers Get Away with Murder’ by Liza Black

    Aliet Paul learns traditional sacred birthing practices of her Mi’kmaq through her grandmother. But the outside world is changing and drives a wedge between her and her community. “The Birthing Tree” is the second novel from Amanda Peters (Mi’kmaq). It is a story of identity, overcoming tragedy, and redemption through one’s connections to family and culture. “How Settlers Get Away with Murder” by Liza Black (Cherokee) focuses on the real-life death and disappearance of five Indigenous people to exemplify the larger culpability of Western systems in ongoing violence against Indigenous people that fuels today’s MMIP crisis.   Break 1 Music: Stranger (song) Ken Pomeroy (artist) Cruel Joke (album) Break 2 Music: Four Corners (song) Little Axe Singers (artist) Traditional Voices: Historic Recordings of Traditional Native American Music (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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