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Minnesota Native News is a weekly radio segment covering ideas and events relevant to Minnesota’s Native American communities

Special Editions | documentaries and special reports

Native Lights | stories of people within Minnesota’s Native communities

MN Native News: Cultural Lessons for Kids at Home

 Lives are changing drastically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are out of work, more and more people are holding work meetings virtually, and everyone is making major adjustments. Students are also home from school. Which means families are trying to find ways to keep the learning going. And for Native students, there are online resources that provide culturally focused learning through language and art.

Minnesota Native News: Minnesota Launches COVID19 Telehealth Program

This week on the Health Report, the Minnesota Department of Health has announced a new telehealth program to help people receive treatment for COVID19. And Bivalent COVID19 vaccines are now available for the youngest age group; Chaz Wagner has more.

Native Lights-Jada Brown: Expression and Affirmation Through Singing

Today Leah and Cole have a conversation with Jada Brown. Jada is a Minneapolis-based singer, songwriter and spoken word poet who is affiliated with the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe. She just released her debut solo album Admiration this month. Jada is also in the band Willows who are releasing an EP at Icehouse in January.


Grand Portage Band Receives Off Reservation Land From State

On Friday, November 18, for the first time in the history of the state of Minnesota, off reservation land was returned to tribal hands by the state. Barbara Jean Meyers has this report.

Native Lights – Karen Jones and Stephanie Longfield: Taking Initiative for Future Generations

Today Leah shares her conversations with Karen Jones and Stephanie Longfield from White Earth Nation’s cohort of Indigenous Parent Leadership Initiative (IPLI). As graduates of the initiative, they’ve begun projects to deepen connections between their communities and culture.

Minnesota Native News: After Justice Walk, Community Hopes President Biden Releases Leonard Peltier

For over two months, advocates for Leonard Peltier walked in prayer from Minneapolis to D.C. to raise awareness about his unjust imprisonment. This week reporter Feven Gerezgiher speaks with the walk lead and Peltier’s lawyer to hear how the walk went…and the outlook on Peltier’s release.

Jessica Glidden: Fostering Native Leadership

Today Leah and Cole chat with Jessica Glidden (Bois Forte). Jessica is the Program Manager at the Native Governance Center (NGC). She shares her thoughts about Native identity, moving away from colonized ways and the Native Rebuilders cohort. Native Rebuilders is a leadership development program for Indigenous changemakers. The program aims to strengthen Native leaders and changemakers and gives them the tools to better their communities.

Minnesota Native News: Getting the COVID Vaccine to Protect Family and Community

The American Indian Community Housing Organization hosts a Covid19 Vaccine Clinics where some families reevaluate their motives on whether or not it is important to get the vaccine, Isabel Lopez has more.


Native Lights- Derek Nicholas: Indigenous Fare for Future Generations

Derek shares his experiences as the Nutrition Program Coordinator at the Division of Indian Work in Minneapolis; his views on culturally, seasonally appropriate foods; and about the growing, multi-faceted Indigenous food community.

Minnesota Native News: Supreme Court Case Challenges Indian Child Welfare Act

The US Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of ICWA or the Indian Child Welfare Act in early November. Reporter Emma Needham sheds light on this case and its implications as Indian country awaits a decision.

Heather Friedli: Revealing Nature’s Allure

Today Leah and Cole chat with Heather Friedli, a contemporary impressionist oil painter. Heather creates vivid landscapes inspired by her family’s Native American and Mexican heritages and her time exploring the natural world. In addition to painting, Heather is also a professional snow sculptor and recently appeared in Disney’s Best In Snow sculpting competition. She shares about her family, painting styles, and her inspiring hike along the whole Appalachian Trail.


Supported by...

McKnight FoundationMN Legacy