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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.

Native Lights- Rita Walaszek Arndt: Representation in History

Today Leah and Cole chat with Rita Walaszek Arndt (White Earth Nation). Rita is the program and outreach manager of the Native American Initiatives department at the Minnesota Historical Society. She’s also the curator of the Our Home: Native Minnesota exhibit at the historical society.

Minnesota Native News: New Round of Free At Home COVID Tests Available for Holiday Season

This week on the Health Report, a new round of covid tests are available through the state of Minnesota and we’ll hear about the Covid 19 treatment, Paxlovid and how to find out if you’re eligible for the treatment. Here’s reporter Leah Lemm…

Susie Ballot and Lera Hephner’s Work to Preserve Culture Across Generations

Today Leah shares her conversations with Susie Ballot and Lera Hephner 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.


Native Lights – Duane Goodwin: Expressing Culture Through Sculpture

Today Leah shares her conversation with artist Duane “Dewey” Goodwin (White Earth Nation). Duane is known for his sculptures, including large-scale rock sculptures that stand beside rivers and in parks across Minnesota.

Bivalent Vaccine The Best Tool to Fight Fall COVID Surge

This week on the Health Report, an update on vaccine clinics across the state, plus recent data suggests a covid surge in the coming weeks.

Counter Stories: GOTV: The Fear of Voting

As election day nears, several things weigh heavy on the minds of voters. There is real fear about the safety of getting their ballots counted, voter intimidation, political parties attempting to staff polling locations, and more.


Native Lights: Elizabeth Day’s Gift for Nurturing Community and Storytelling

Today we hear from Elizabeth Day (Leech Lake Ojibwe) with the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI). She’s the Community Engagement Programs Manager at NACDI focusing on healthy access that includes the Four Sisters Farmers Market and Make Voting a Tradition, a year-round voter mobilization program. Elizabeth views herself as a public servant, supporting the community through her work at NACDI as well as creating short films with traditional Ojibwe storytelling using contemporary filmmaking techniques. Currently, she lives in Twin Cities.

Minnesota Native News: On the Ballot 2022: Minnesota Natives Run for Office

In the 2020 election, native voters came out to the polls nationwide at rates never seen before. According to the Associated Press, Native voters swung the elections in both Arizona and next door in Wisconsin. Now, the 2022 Midterm elections are in just under 2 weeks, and it’s apparent that this time, Native people have turned out to the polls in a different way: On the ballot. Emma Needham talks with new and returning Native candidates from midterm races across the state.


Native Lights: Tamee Livermont Brings Indigenous Values to Health Care Education and Policy

Tamee brings her knowledge of Indigenous values and tribal policy to her work and studies. She wants to Indigenize the medical education system and defend treaty obligations while creating better healthcare systems that are centered around Indigenous values.

MN Native News: Bivalent COVID Booster Approved For Ages 5 to 11

This week on the Health Report, we’ll hear from Kelly Miller, the executive director of the Division of Indian work in St. Paul, about their work as a Covid-19 Community Coordinator. Also, Children ages 5 to 11 can now get the updated COVID-19 booster shot, known as the bi-valent vaccine, meaning that it draws immunity from the currently circulating variants in addition to the original COVID strain.


Supported by...

McKnight FoundationMN Legacy