Monday, November 2, 2015 – Official Apologies
Pope Francis apologized to Indigenous leaders in July and asked forgiveness, “for not only for the offenses of the church herself, but also for crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America.”President Obama in 2009 signed a Native American Apology Resolution that was tacked onto the defense appropriations bill. In 2008 the Canadian government apologized and created a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the victims of the residential school system. What is the purpose of an official apology? Is it enough? Are apologies a step toward reconciliation? Should they come with concrete obligations?
Tuesday, November 3, 2015 – Canadian Elections
Canada swears in a new Prime Minister Wednesday, switching political directions after nine years of Conservative Party rule. An unprecedented rise in aboriginal turnout helped sweep Stephen Harper out of office and Justin Trudeau in. What prompted the electoral shift? What does the Trudeau government mean for us? What lessons can Native Americans learn from the Canadian elections?
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 – Is debt always bad?
From the highest offices of government to your personal bank account, debt is a big part of your daily life. Congress deals with the country’s debt by raising the government’s limit just before the deadline. But most people have no such power over how they pay off their mortgages or student loans. When is taking on debt a good idea? We’ll discuss different kinds of debt and how the peoples’ views have changed over the years. We’ll also talk about strategies to get out of debt and prepare your budget for the holiday spending season.
Thursday, November 5, 2015 – Suicide Prevention
A man committed suicide in front of dozens of horrified onlookers at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage. The tragedy came even as the conference worked to address troubling suicide statistics in Native populations. Native American and Alaska Native men between 18 to 24 years old are much more likely to commit suicide than the rest of the population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Are suicide prevention programs helping? Is there a model program or an amount of money that can save lives?
Friday, November 6, 2015 – Prepping for Disaster
There are those among us who believe the end is near. They are preparing for the end of civilization brought on by economic collapse, war, natural disaster or even the zombie apocalypse. Some go as far as spending money and time gathering emergency supplies and food for when the time comes. Is this is a good idea? Should we all be prepping for some type of disaster, big or small? When harsh weather strikes or wildfires threaten your community, will you be prepared?
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.