Week of September 28 on Native America Calling

A stroke is an event where blood flow is cut off from the brain and cells begin to die. Stroke is the seventh leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationwide, 1 in 20 deaths are a result of stroke.Today we learn about the signs of a stroke and important risk factors. Has someone in your family been affected by stroke?What questions do you have about strokes? Guests: Dr. Carolyn Badeer, a neurologist at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center.

Email your questions: comments@nativeamericacalling.com

We are now well into the school year and many students may have already taken tests in a variety of academic subjects. How do we know when that light bulb goes on and a student really gets it? Most K-12 students across the country take a series of standardized tests to measure their knowledge and skills. Teachers can also measure student knowledge through projects, class discussions and individual conversations. What do you think is the best way to measure student learning? The U.S. Department of Education recently granted the Miccosukee Indian School flexibility in defining Adequate Yearly Progress for their students.  How can schools measure student success from Indigenous perspective? Guests:

Paula Scott (Cherokee), curriculum coordinator at the Muckleshoot Tribal School and Walter Kahumoku III (Native Hawaiian), director of teacher education and  professional development (Kauhale Kipaipai) at the Kamehameha Schools.

Mvskoke Nation artist Joy Harjo is known for her moving poetry. This month’s book spotlight is on her latest work “Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings,” which covers Native history and life. Knowing the important role that poets play in our societies, including bringing forth justice and helping to give vision, Joy follows suit with this collection of words that evoke images. We invite you to join us as we hear her observations on life during our September Book of the Month program.

Follow this conversation with the hashtag: #MvskokePoet

For those families who are dealing with Alzheimer’s or dementia,having a caretaker can be very helpful. Caretakers must also make sure they are taking care of themselves as these illnesses can be stressful for the caretaker. Do you care for a family member with dementia? How do you cope with the challenges of caretaking? How can communities make sure caretakers are also being taken care of? Guests: Jordan Lewis (Aleut, Native Village of Naknek), assistant professor, University of Washington School of Social Work, Jan Dougherty from the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, and Lucinda Martin (Navajo), caregiver research specialist for Navajo Area Agency on Aging.

Members of Congress are currently considering the Child Nutrition Act, which comes up for re-authorization every five years. In 2010, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which changed many aspects of child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program. Now there’s room for change. Are you concerned about what your children are eating at school? Do you want to see changes made to school lunches, breakfasts and snacks? How will Native American children be affected after Congress makes a decision on the School Lunch Program? Guests: Mark Sorensen. CEO and co-founder of the STAR School and Jesse Padron (Oneida), food service director for the Oneida Nation School System.