Monday, January 25, 2016 – Missing more than school
Missing school affects more than a student’s attendance record. It can hamper success in school and everything that comes after. The education advocacy group Attendance Works links chronic absenteeism to low graduation rates and reduced likelihood of entering college. The National Assessment of Education Progress finds Native American students have the highest rates of school absenteeism. Why are Native kids missing so many days of school? How can parents, teachers and schools get Native students back in classrooms?

Tuesday, January 26, 2016 – Traumatic brain injuries
Violence, car crashes and other accidents are causing traumatic brain injuries in Native Americans at a higher rate than other groups. One National Institutes of Health study finds young Native American adults have much higher incidences of brain injury than their white counterparts. Why do Native Americans have such high rates of traumatic brain injury? What burden does it place on families and communities? Is there a way to turn around the trend?

Wednesday, December 27, 2016 – January in the news
A militia group in Oregon continues its stand-off near Burns Paiute tribal land. President Obama’s State of the Union Address skirts Native American issues, and the counterpart from the National Congress of American Indians praises progress since the Nixon administration. And the Supreme Court takes a look at Nebraska v. Parker, a case about tribal jurisdiction and liquor sales. These topics and sports are on our monthly news round up.

Thursday, January 28, 2016 – Where are all the Native television shows?
Canada is airing an enviable number of TV shows produced by and starring aboriginal talent. The shows include dramas, comedies, news, animation and documentaries. Many take place on First Nations reserves. The shows aren’t available on regular U.S. television. But the push is on to get U.S. distributors like Comcast to carry Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. The Canadian government launched APTN in 1999. Would you watch a show about 20-something Mohawk girls? How about a show built around Native cooking?

Friday, January 29, 2016 – January Book of the Month: “The Beginning and End of Rape” by Sarah Deer
Native scholar and author Sarah Deer’s new book opens up the dialogue on the effects of sexual violence in Native nations as well as how tribes can seek redress and make their communities safer. We invite you to join us as we open our electronic talking circle to Deer’s book “The Beginning and End of Rape: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native America.” It is our January Book of the Month spotlight.

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Native America Calling is a national call-in program that invites guests and listeners to join a dialogue about current events, music, arts, entertainment and culture.

The program is hosted by Tara Gatewood (Isleta Pueblo) and airs live each weekday from 1-2 pm Eastern.

Join the conversation by calling 1-800-996-2848.

Week of January 25 on Native America Calling