Native America Calling

Koahnic
  • 4.8 (176)
  • News
  • 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

    Friday, September 18, 2026 — Native Playlist: Kole Galbraith and Laura Ortman

    Musician Kole Galbraith (Peoria Tribe) has spent nearly a decade perfecting his unique blend of electronic and acoustic instrumentation and field recordings to create his signature drone-doom sound. Galbraith’s musical roots are grounded in metal, noise, free jazz, and musique concrète. He is earning praises from audiences from the Pacific Northwest to Eastern Europe for his honed sound that finds the beauty in dark and abrasive tones. Composer and violinist Laura Ortman (White Mountain Apache) calls her approach to music “sculpting sound.” She often composes for visual art exhibitions and multimedia performances. Like Galbraith, Ortman blends field recordings with her own masterful violin playing, which Vogue has described as “transcendent” and “eccentric.” Her music has taken her to stages throughout Europe and led to collaborations with acclaimed Diné ballet dancer Jock Soto, Diné Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Raven Chacon, and many others. She joins us to talk about her live performances, honoring her Apache heritage, and her unique approach to composing.   Break 1 Music: Live from Skaņu Mežs, Latvia [EXCERPT] (song) Laura Ortman (artist) Live from Skaņu Mežs, Latvia (album) Break 2 Music: Everywhere On Earth I Roam (song) Courtney Yellow Fat (artist) The Lost Songs of Sitting Bull (album)

  2. 2d ago

    Thursday, September 17, 2026 — After decades of work, tribes overcome language revitalization barriers

    Julian Lang is an elder, artist, and dedicated language teacher. He has spent decades talking with elders and poring over documents — including deciphering cryptic field notes from an anthropological linguist a century ago — to help rebuild the structure of his Karuk language. Now, a master-apprenticeship program he helped found is being recognized by linguists as a successful example of language revitalization. Similarly, Jesse Little Doe Baird, a Mashpee Wampanoag language advocate, dedicated years to building a language program that is earning praise for its effectiveness. Her work included analyzing a 1663 Bible in the Wampanoag language. We’ll hear from them and others about building these programs from the ground up. GUESTS Julian Lange (Karuk, Wiyot, and Shasta), language teacher and artist Sandra Hernandez (Tejon Indian Tribe/Kitanemuk) Language and Culture Coordinator for Kern County, Calif.; language learner. Jessie Little Doe Baird (Mashpee Wampanoag), co-founder of the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project   Break 1 Music: Generations (song) P. Town Boyz (artist) P. Town Boyz (album) Break 2 Music: Everywhere On Earth I Roam (song) Courtney Yellow Fat (artist) The Lost Songs of Sitting Bull (album)

  3. 3d ago

    Wednesday, September 16, 2026 — Native advocates assess barriers to upcoming elections

    A new report by the Native American Rights Fund finds rejections increased for both ballots and voter registration forms sent by mail from places with high Native populations from 2020 to 2024. NARF’s analysis also documents generations of efforts to suppress or hinder Native voters. The report comes as both Congress and the courts are turning back several President Donald Trump’s most significant attempts to alter how people vote or how their votes should be counted. But Native voting advocates remain vigilant for ways the federal government may seek to interfere with the midterm elections in November. GUESTS Dr. Megan Gall, principal at Blockwell Consulting Jaynie Parrish (Diné), executive director of Arizona Native Vote Michelle Sparck (Qissunamiut Tribe of Chevak), director of Get Out The Native Vote Calvin Hedrick (Mountain Maidu), director of policy, training and tribal relations for the California Native Vote Project   Break 1 Music: Buc Wild Intertribal (song) Buc Wild (artist) Oneida Powwow: 40th Anniversary (album) Break 2 Music: Everywhere On Earth I Roam (song) Courtney Yellow Fat (artist) The Lost Songs of Sitting Bull (album)

  4. 4d ago

    Tuesday, September 15, 2026 — An Indigenous-led opera retells a historic Tlingit act of resistance

    A diverse team of mainly Alaska Native talent spent nearly nine years building the operatic version of a historic battle in the early 1800s. “Ḵutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles”, a combination of music, writing, anthropology, and culture, is now on stage in Juneau, offering audiences a Tlingit perspective that is frequently dismissed in historical accounts. The presentation in the high art of opera adds a uniquely dramatic setting to a conflict that forever defined commerce, colonization and Tlingit autonomy in Alaska. We’ll hear from some of the talent behind the opera as well as the events from more than 200 years ago that inspired it. GUESTS Madeline Sayet (Mohegan), stage director for “Kutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles” Vera Starbard (Tlingit and Dena’ina), writer and librettist for “Kutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles” Shaakindustoow Ed Littlefield (Lingit), composer and musical director for “Kutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles” Dr. X̱’unei Lance Twitchell (Lingít, Haida, Yup’ik, and Sámi), professor of Alaska Native Languages at the University of Alaska-Southeast, translator and cultural consultant   Break 1 Music: First Battle (song) Ed Littlefield (artist) Kutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles (album) Break 2 Music: Everywhere On Earth I Roam (song) Courtney Yellow Fat (artist) The Lost Songs of Sitting Bull (album)

  5. 5d ago

    Monday, September 14, 2026 — Shifting preservation policies pose risks to Native history

    A proposed overhaul of the federal process that protects cultural heritage sites and resources is fueling considerable pushback from tribes. They are concerned about how recommended changes to the National Historic Preservation Act might diminish tribal input on matters such as development projects in known sensitive areas. Critics say the changes have the potential to permanently destroy any remaining cultural treasures in the path of commercial development. At the same time, historians and others are worried about the pending closure of two federal archive facilities containing documents from the Indian Boarding School Era. Archivists worry there is no clear answer about what happens to these records if the facilities shut down. And we’ll discuss the possible damage from border wall construction at Big Bend National Park in Texas. The Mescalero Apache Tribe is among those that spent years developing a framework to avoid irreparable damage to important spiritual and cultural sites. Current construction efforts are not following that framework. GUESTS Ira Matt (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), executive director for the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers Heather Hostler (Hupa), executive director at California Indian Legal Services Fallon Carey (Cherokee), digital archives director at the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Holly Houghten, tribal historic preservation officer for the Mescalero Apache Tribe   Break 1 Music: Wake Up Song (song) Voices of Salish & Ped d’Oreille Women (artist) Heart of the Bitterroot (album) Break 2 Music: Everywhere On Earth I Roam (song) Courtney Yellow Fat (artist) The Lost Songs of Sitting Bull (album)

  6. Sep 11

    Friday, September 11, 2026 — How 9/11 reverberates a quarter century later

    For those who witnessed the attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., the terrorist attacks remain a vivid memory 25 years later. It’s even burned into the minds of those who watched the tragedy unfold on television. At the same time, up to 30% of Americans were born after the historic event and have no first-hand knowledge. We’ll remember 9/11 though the eyes of those who were close enough to see it, or were among those who put their lives on the line to help clean up the damage to help the nation heal. GUESTS John Haworth (Cherokee), Senior Executive Emeritus for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian Leslie Logan (Seneca), widow of Brad Bonaparte Mike Swamp (St. Regis Mohawk), retired ironworker and owner of Mohawk Plumbing and Heating Tokala Two Elk (Sicangu Lakota), elder J.J. Lind (Cherokee and Shawnee), artist and filmmaker   Break 1 Music: Memorial Song (song) Porcupine Singers (artist) Alowanpi – Songs Of Honoring – Lakota Classics: Past & Present, Vol. 1 (album) Break 2 Music: With My Son (song) Vincent Craig (artist)

  7. Sep 10

    Thursday, September 10, 2026 — Shortage of wildland firefighters strains preparedness and safety

    The risks of fighting wildfires hit home this summer as 13 firefighters, including two Native Americans, died on the job. The profession is facing burnout, overwork, and higher risk as the number of wildfires steadily increases and the number of federal firefighters drops following budget cuts by the Trump administration. We’ll hear about what wildland firefighters are currently up against and what the hopes are for more staff and training as the threat of wildfires across the country shows no signs to slowing down. We’ll also hear from friends and family members of fallen firefighters, including those from a historically tragic fire 40 years ago. GUESTS Bodie Shaw (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs), Northwest Incident Management Team 7 liaison officer, former deputy regional director for the Northwest Region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and former national wildland fire director for BIA Al Waquie (Jemez Pueblo), former wildland firefighter Elsa Coffin (Iñupiaq), parent of Leslie R. Washington Franklin Coffin (Iñupiaq), parent of Leslie R. Washington   Break 1 Music: Intertribal Song (song) Black Lodge Singers (artist) Enter the Circle – Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Coeur D’Alene (album) Break 2 Music: With My Son (song) Vincent Craig (artist)

  8. Sep 9

    Wednesday, September 9, 2026 — Texas ‘ghost tribe’ rakes in millions of dollars with little to no official tribal documentation

    The Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas and its leader Juan Mancias have established themselves as leaders in environmental causes including the DAPL pipeline protests and another oil and gas pipeline in Texas. Mancias is recognized by the U.N. and has worked hand-in-hand with several established environmental organizations. Along the way, the tribe has brought in more than $5 million in philanthropic and other funds. But an investigation by the online outlet Grist finds the tribe’s status, including what its leaders point to as founding documents are suspect. Publicly available geneological documents contradict Mancias’ own tribal lineage claims. Along the way, Grist exposes a flawed system in which funders and government entities eager to support Indigenous organizers have no way to adequately discern between legitimate tribes and those with questionable origins. We’ll find out about the growth of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe and some of the concerns that have surfaced. GUESTS Tristan Ahtone (Kiowa), editor-at-large for Grist Dr. Kyle Whyte (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan Andrea Carmen (Yaqui), executive director of the International Indian Treaty Council Dr. Kim Tallbear (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate), professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota   Break 1 Music: Sewa Ania (song) Gabriel Ayala (artist) Shades of Blue (album) Break 2 Music: With My Son (song) Vincent Craig (artist)

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4.8
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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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