Best Alaska Native Languages Podcasts (2025)

1
Friday, October 24, 2025 — Native Bookshelf: Spooky Books for the season 55:40

Play Pause

1d ago55:40

55:40

Henry is an aspiring ghost hunter on the cusp of social media fame in the novel, “The Whistler“, by Nick Medina (Tunica-Biloxi). As the title suggests, he tempts fate by intentionally whistling into the night, provoking an evil entity that turns his life upside down and forces him to confront his past wrongdoing. Daniel H. Wilson (Cherokee) imagine…

1
Thursday, October 23, 2025 – Domestic violence prevention limps along without federal support 55:39

2d ago55:39

55:39

Among the thousands of staff cuts and billions of dollars eliminated from federal programs is support to prevent and respond to domestic violence. Organizations that facilitate women’s shelters, preventative outreach, case managers, and legal help are mostly going it alone without the once-powerful assistance of the federal government. Many are in …

1
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 – Leonard Peltier calls for unity, vigilance 56:30

1d ago56:30

56:30

Leonard Peltier calls on Native Americans to come together in the ongoing fight for many of the same issues he championed in the early days of the American Indian Movement. After President Joe Biden commuted his life sentence in the deaths of two FBI agents, Peltier emerged from nearly a half century in federal prison to a hero’s welcome by his sup…

1
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 – Government shutdown threatens to close off tribal financing funds 55:35

2d ago55:35

55:35

Tribal officials are among those pushing back against President Donald Trump’s plan to cut off some $500 million dollars in federal funds used for tribal housing, business development and infrastructure projects. The National Congress of American Indians calls the action by Trump related to the federal government shutdown “a critical threat to our …

1
Monday, October 20, 2025 – Alaska Native residents assess their future after record-breaking storm damage 55:30

3d ago55:30

55:30

Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) predicts many of the more than 2,000 people uprooted by historically damaging storms may not be able to return to their villages for more than a year and a half. In at least one village, officials say 90% of the residences are destroyed – and, as their lives are suddenly and drastically changed, the mostly Alaska Native in…

1
Friday, October 17, 2025 — Native in the Spotlight: Cannupa Hanska Luger 56:25

6d ago56:25

56:25

A new book is just one of multidisciplinary artist Cannupa Hanska Luger’s (Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara and Lakota) many current creative projects. He’s the 2025 artist-in-residence for Verbier 3-D Foundation, a contemporary art non-profit in Switzerland. He has new work that is part of an augmented reality exhibition with other Indigenous artists at…

1
Thursday, October 16, 2025 – The fight to recognize Taffy Abel’s historic NHL achievement 55:49

7d ago55:49

55:49

It’s been almost a full century since Ojibwe hockey player Taffy Abel first set foot on the ice as a New York Rangers defenseman. It was a historic moment that was not acknowledged at the time in the professional hockey world or even by Abel himself. At the time, he kept his Native American identity a secret — at first to escape the forced attendan…

1
Come Together: Learning and Teaching Ojibwe Language Through Partnership with Anton Treuer and Chelsea Mead 44:20

7d ago44:20

44:20

In this episode, host Dr. Farina King is joined by Dr. Anton Treuer and Dr. Chelsea Mead to explore the transformative partnership between Bemidji State University and Minnesota State University, Mankato, dedicated to revitalizing the Ojibwe language. The conversation delves into the power of intergenerational learning, the use of technology to bri…

1
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 – The road project that could open up a great expanse of pristine Alaska 55:38

8d ago55:38

55:38

The Trump administration just gave the final approval for a new 211-mile road that punches across the Brooks Mountain Range and the expansive wilderness that surrounds it. Ambler Road promises to clear the way for several mining operations, providing minerals like copper, cobalt and gold that President Trump says is needed to “win the AI arms race …

1
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 – Shifting the balance in historical scholarship 55:44

9d ago55:44

55:44

The stories and written documentation on boarding schools, Indian Agents, and even the fictional character, Paul Bunyan, all have an influence on how we view history. The Western History Association Conference in Albuquerque, N.M., this week assembles a number of discussions led by Native American historians on those and other topics, gauging how w…

1
Monday, October 13, 2025 – Language teachers celebrate success on Indigenous Peoples Day 55:28

11d ago55:28

55:28

After an intensive two-year adult immersion program, the number of fluent Spokane Salish language speakers nearly doubled. Some of those program graduates will be hired on as full-time language teaching staff as the tribe expands its language revitalization efforts. And the Yuchi Tribe in Oklahoma has established a unique partnership with an Austra…

1
Friday, October 10, 2025 – Tara Moses’ ‘Haunted’ is more than just a satirical ghost story 56:12

15d ago56:12

56:12

In the Tara Moses play, “Haunted,” two Native ghosts are caught in a seemingly endless cycle of haunting the prospective owners of a house, while also being haunted in return by racist stereotypes. The Millennial siblings have a penchant for the soundtrack of their youth that leans heavily on Britney Spears. Along the way they find themselves on a …

1
Thursday, October 9, 2025 — Walrus management in a changing Arctic 55:19

15d ago55:19

55:19

An Indigenous anthropologist is embarking on a years-long process to document how Alaska Native hunters are changing their hunting patterns in the face of climate change. To complicate things, the war in Ukraine is preventing Native researchers from sharing information with their counterparts in Russia, which plays a role in the overall health of w…

1
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 – Risks and unintended consequences of terminating USAID 56:07

15d ago56:07

56:07

President Donald Trump and his administration abruptly ended billions of dollars in aid to foreign countries, calling it wasteful and inappropriately supporting a liberal agenda. In addition to food and medicine that went directly to Indigenous people who need it, the money and goods also promoted agriculture programs and other incentives toward pr…

1
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 — Protecting sacred sites in urban areas 56:12

16d ago56:12

56:12

Sacred sites sometimes get lost in urban settings as cities prioritize the needs of non-Native residents and commercial interests over the historical and spiritual value for Native Americans, but tribes and Native organizations are having some success connecting with city officials to see that sacred spaces are protected and accessible. After years…

1
Monday, October 6, 2025 – Tribal housing advocates work against a tide of obstacles 56:07

17d ago56:07

56:07

Someone looking to move to any of the Native American reservations in Montana will have a hard time finding a home. A three-part series by the Montana Free Press finds there is a chronic shortage of housing on Native land caused by confusing land ownership frameworks, hurdles for conventional financing, and a lack of infrastructure. The government …

1
Friday, October 3, 2025 – Native Playlist: Ken Pomeroy and Samantha Crain 56:05

20d ago56:05

56:05

Two Native American women from Oklahoma are carving distinct and inviting musical paths through the music world.Samantha Crain’s seventh album, "Gumshoe", offers the latest installment in the veteran Choctaw singer-songwriter’s musical evolution. The cover artwork—a photo of her own beadwork—is a clue to the roots she draws on for strength and insp…

1
Thursday, October 2, 2025 – Bracing for the federal government shutdown grind 55:18

22d ago55:18

55:18

Payments to tribes for federal contracts, BIA law enforcement, food distribution to schools, and health care access could all be affected by the federal government shutdown. It also has a significant effect on the 30,000 Native American federal employees and members of the military who may not be furloughed, but will not receive paychecks until the…

1
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 – Rewriting the historical context for Native Americans 56:25

22d ago56:25

56:25

Culture keepers and historians are closely watching President Donald Trump’s review of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and other institutions to eliminate what he calls derisive or partisan narratives. It’s among eight museums that receive federal funding are that are currently under review. NMAI’s exhibits include N…

1
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 – Native in the Spotlight: Tina Kuckkahn 56:06

23d ago56:06

56:06

For more than three decades, Tina Kuckkahn's work has centered on supporting Native culture and the arts. The Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe citizen is the new head of the Native artist non-profit organization, the First Peoples Fund. She previously directed s'gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ: House of Welcome (The Evergreen State College Longhouse) and most recently helpe…

1
Monday, September 29, 2025 – How will Native Americans fare in state-by-state redistricting push? 56:00

24d ago56:00

56:00

The action by Republican Texas lawmakers to redraw congressional voting boundaries to favor Republican candidates has clear implications for the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas. The new contorted boundaries put the tribe at least four times the distance away from their elected representative’s base of operation. The Texas move has also spurred oth…

1
Friday, September 26, 2025 – The Native American history censorship threat at National Parks and other federal institutions 56:15

27d ago56:15

56:15

Among the informational signs flagged for review under the Trump administration’s purge of “improper ideology” at National Parks is language at the Sitka National Monument Russian Bishop’s House explaining how missionaries worked to destroy Indigenous cultures and languages in Alaska. A panel at Florida’s Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is…

1
Thursday, September 25, 2025 – Robin Wall Kimmerer challenges us to re-examine what we know about the natural world 56:11

28d ago56:11

56:11

Propelled by the success of her runaway bestseller, “Braiding Sweetgrass”, Robin Wall Kimmerer (Citizen Potawatomi) continues a passion for weaving together the science, the cultural knowledge, and the beauty of the natural environment and importance of taking notice of it. In her new children’s picture book, “Bud Finds Her Gift,” a young girl disc…

1
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 — The Menu: Troubling wild rice trend, heirloom Cherokee apples, and a prize-winning New Mexico burger 56:25

29d ago56:25

56:25

An unassuming café on Isleta Pueblo just won one of the most sought-after culinary recognitions in New Mexico. Isleta Grill is this year’s Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge Champion for their frybread version of a regional delicacy.In northern Wisconsin, this year’s wild rice yields are low. The state Department of Natural Resources blames wind da…

1
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 – A groundbreaking agreement promises protections for the world’s oceans — can it deliver? 55:28

30d ago55:28

55:28

By Koahnic

1
Monday, September 22, 2025 – Native Playlist: Khu.éex’ and Earth Surface People 56:25

1M ago56:25

56:25

By Koahnic

1
Friday, September 19, 2025 — Native Bookshelf: “Sisters in the Wind” by Angeline Boulley 56:19

1M ago56:19

56:19

Lucy Smith just aged out of the foster care system but finds she needs to protect herself and her family against persistent threats from her past. She relies on the survival skills she’s learned the hard way: a lack of trust in others and a readiness to run. Along the way she connects with her own Anishinaabe identity. “Sisters in the Wind” is the …

1
Thursday, September 18, 2025 – Tribes look to modernize the traditional practice of banishment 55:52

1M ago55:52

55:52

The Gila River Indian Community in Arizona is considering a new law to banish tribal members convicted of violent crimes. A bill awaits a signature from the New York governor that aims to strengthen the Seneca Nation’s ability to enforce tribal laws, which includes removing people convicted of drug trafficking and other crimes. Those are among effo…

1
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 – Free speech and social media collide 55:34

1M ago55:34

55:34

In life, Charlie Kirk espoused controversial opinions that many people consider repugnant. His violent and public death is now becoming a test for what other public figures—and ordinary citizens—are able to say without severe consequences. Dozens of people, including a Washington Post columnist and a U.S. Army colonel, are facing repercussions afte…

1
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 – Tribal advocates sound the alarm over radioactive exposure 56:00

1M ago56:00

56:00

The advocacy group, Tewa Women United, is warning nearby Pueblo citizens and other local residents about Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico releasing gas containing the weak radioactive substance, tritium. The group says, despite assurances by lab experts and regulators that the substance is safe in relatively small doses, it is a …

1
A Collaboration of Indigenous Truthtelling of Boarding Schools 25:50

1M ago25:50

25:50

This episode features voices from a panel on the collaboration, “Indigenous Truthtelling of Boarding Schools,” held at the University of Oklahoma in August 2025 and funded by a NHPRC-Mellon Planning Grant for Collaborative Digital Editions in African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American History and Ethnic Studies. The pa…

1
Monday, September 15, 2025 – Native women making leadership gains 56:25

1M ago56:25

56:25

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians just elected four women to what had been an all-male tribal council. The Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma just installed women in their top two leadership positions for the first time in history. As with the general population, Native women lag behind men when it comes to elected political power. The non-profit Repres…

1
Friday, September 12, 2025 – An epic drama and a true crime obsession brings two events with cultural ties to the screen 56:25

1M ago56:25

56:25

Two films take on real life accounts with strong Native cultural themes. One is a major Hollywood drama. The other is a smoldering independent documentary.The Hulu documentary “Blood & Myth” follows Iñupiaq musician and writer James Dommek Jr.’s obsession with a bizarre 2012 string of violence. Dommek digs into the motivations of the fellow Alaska…

1
Thursday, September 11, 2025 — Native health officials navigating confusing new federal COVID vaccination guidance 56:02

1M ago56:02

56:02

Just as coronavirus infections are on the rise, federal authorities are throwing confusing recommendations about vaccinations into the mix. Many people are wondering whether they are eligible for a COVID shot, where to get one, and whether it’s covered by insurance. The answer, at least partly, depends on whether your state or tribe is filling in g…

1
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 — Dwindling water adds pressure for including tribal voices in future Colorado River water plans 55:25

1M ago55:25

55:25

Tribes are seeking to flex whatever legal muscle they have to secure Colorado River water protections, just as forecasts show the resource to continue to disappear in the foreseeable future. The tribes are hoping to gain whatever leverage they can as policymakers negotiate new water plans. More than 30 tribes and seven states utilize water from the…

1
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 – Native businesses are responding to tariffs 56:03

1M ago56:03

56:03

President Donald Trump is going to defend his tariff policy before the U.S. Supreme Court. Lower federal courts recently ruled that President Trump does not have the authority to impose tariffs under the national emergency powers. A new Pew Research Center poll found that 61% of Americans disapprove of his tariff policies. Businesses like Sisseton-…

1
Monday, September 8, 2025 – Finding effective suicide prevention as federal support fades 55:53

2M ago55:53

55:53

Suicide numbers are lower in places with higher incomes, better access to broadband internet, and good health insurance coverage. Unfortunately, those are all factors that are statistically lacking for many Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Development of the nationwide 988 Suicide and Lifeline has improved the persistently high Native suicide r…

1
Friday, September 5, 2025 – Remembering Graham Greene 56:25

2M ago56:25

56:25

Oneida actor Graham Greene said learning the Lakota language for his celebrated role as Kicking Bird was among his greatest challenges. Over the span of nearly five decades, Greene worked in nearly 200 television shows and films where he earned the admiration of audiences and his fellow actors. His many characters included Maximus in the acclaimed …

1
Thursday, September 4, 2025 – The fight to bring Yukon River salmon back 55:49

2M ago55:49

55:49

Once plentiful, salmon that return to Alaska’s Yukon River are struggling to survive. The fishery is in the sixth straight year of restrictions, affecting commercial, sport, and subsistence salmon harvests. The reasons for the major decline in fish populations are complex. There’s little agreement on which path to take from here. Alaska Native resi…

1
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 – LGBTQ2+ identity is more than just an artistic expression 55:56

2M ago55:56

55:56

Indigenous Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ artists often add another layer of expression to their work and stories. On top of celebrating their tribal and personal identities, they’re bringing stories and voices forward that aren’t often heard from elsewhere. They can also provide recognition and support for other LGBTQ2+ people searching for connection. We’…

1
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 – Trump administration pushes for increased logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest 55:57

2M ago55:57

55:57

The Trump administration is working to remove protections for more than 58 million acres of national forests. A brief public comment period is now open on a plan to rescind the federal government’s 25-year-old Roadless Rule which prohibits road construction and timber harvesting in several states. Environmental groups and leaders of Alaska Native t…

1
Monday, September 1, 2025 – The fight for Shinnecock Nation fishing rights 55:37

2M ago55:37

55:37

The Shinnecock Nation in New York is in an ongoing legal battle to have their fishing rights recognized. A lawsuit brought forward by a Shinnecock tribal citizen argues the tribe has never ceded their right to fish in any treaty or agreement. The tribe has no treaty with the federal government, but instead with British colonists from the 1600s. Thi…

1
Friday, August 29, 2025 — The Menu: ‘Seeds’ and the ‘Legendary Frybread Drive-In’ 56:25

2M ago56:25

56:25

In the comedy thriller "Seeds", social media influencer Ziggy is offered a lucrative sponsorship contract with a corporate seed and fertilizer company, but she’s also called back to her Mohawk reservation to help out her cousin, which gets her tangled in an all-out battle to save her tribe’s ancestral seeds. Kanienʼkehá:ka Mohawk actor Kaniehtiio H…

1
Thursday, August 28, 2025 – The decision-makers for Native American student success 55:50

2M ago55:50

55:50

Serving on a school board is not a glamorous position, but it’s an important one that plays a big role in Native American students’ success. Elected members of school boards make decisions ranging annual budgets to what’s allowed in classroom lessons. They are also responsible for representing the community’s values and interests. As such, individu…

1
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 – Native Bookshelf: ‘Nothing More Of This Land’ by Joseph Lee 59:00

2M ago59:00

59:00

Aquinnah Wampanoag journalist Joseph Lee investigates the difficult subject of Indigenous identity in his new book, "Nothing More Of This Land". He uses his own family’s story as a jumping off point, exploring the reality of the people who once greeted the Mayflower. The original Wampanoag homeland includes Martha’s Vineyard, the haven for wealthy …

1
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 — Santa Ana Pueblo works to recover cultural items from 40-year-old burglaries 58:45

2M ago58:45

58:45

Santa Ana Pueblo is celebrating the return of a clay bowl that was stolen in 1984, but it’s only one out of nearly 150 irreplaceable items taken during a series of burglaries and never recovered. Investigators believe the items were eventually sold to collectors around the world and authorities never tracked them down. We’ll check in on the tribe’s…

1
Monday, August 25, 2025 – Tribal concerns help derail fast-track for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ 59:00

2M ago59:00

59:00

Miccosukee Tribe of Florida scored at least a temporary legal victory when a federal judge halted construction and ordered parts of the facility dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" removed. The decision comes in the lawsuit by the tribe and environmental groups claiming work on the abandoned airport turned emergency immigrant detention center in Florida vi…

1
Friday, August 22, 2025 – Breaking ground with classical forms: Jock Soto and Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate 58:52

2M ago58:52

58:52

Renowned ballet dancer Jock Soto (Diné/Puerto Rican) is being celebrated by the International Museum of Dance for his career that started when he was hand-selected at age 16 by New York City Ballet founder George Balanchine as a principal dancer. He went on to an acclaimed career on stage and as a mentor to up-and-coming dancers. We’ll talk with So…

1
Thursday, August 21, 2025 – The shift in federal support for maternal health 56:13

2M ago56:13

56:13

A relatively new program with proven results in improving the health of expecting and new mothers may be in jeopardy. Efforts to renew the Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) program by the September 30 deadline have so far been unsuccessful. ERASE MM panels review and document social and legal factors that…

1
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 – Building community through radio 56:13

2M ago56:13

56:13

Since the technology was first made publicly available in the U.S. more than a century ago, radio has endured repeated predictions of its demise. Even with the explosion of digital streaming and on-demand podcasts, the nation’s top ratings firm finds at least 82% of Americans listen to traditional, terrestrial radio each week. We’ll mark National R…