News For All Americans
Leonard Peltier has until 12 p.m. EST on Monday, January 20 to receive a pardon or be granted clemency by President Joe Biden.
Native activists around North America and allies around the world are calling on President Biden to release Peltier from federal prison.
Stay tuned to National Native News for the latest updates and analysis.
And catch up on our recent coverage of Leonard Peltier and his quest for freedom.
FULL AUDIO: Zoom call with Leonard Peltier supporters following parole hearing
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Join us for Native Vote 2024: Election Night Live, a four-hour coast-to-coast broadcast brought to you by ICT, FNX, National Native News, and Native Voice One this Tuesday, November 5 starting at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Anchored by Antonia Gonzales (Navajo) and Shaun Griswold (Laguna) with insights from ICT Political Correspondent Pauly Denetclaw (Navajo) and reporters across the country, this special coverage will bring live updates and in-depth analysis as election results come in from across Indian Country.
Our correspondents will report from key states and races, with a special focus on Indigenous candidates and issues impacting Indigenous communities.
WATCH
FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | YOUR LOCAL FNX STATION
LISTEN
NV1.ORG | NV1 iOs & ANDROID APPS | YOUR LOCAL NV1 STATION
And tune into Native America Calling on Tuesday, November 5 and Wednesday, November 6 at 1 p.m. ET for the latest updates on this historic election.
LIST OF NV1 STATIONS CARRYING TONIGHT’S SPECIAL PROGRAM:
Alaska
KNBA Anchorage
KYUK Bethel
KWRK Fairbanks
KOTZ Kotzebue
KSKO McGrath
Arizona
KWLP Peach Springs
KRDP Phoenix
Arkansas
KABF Little Rock
California
KBPT Bishop
KCXU San Jose
Louisiana
WAMF New Orleans
Minnesota
WGZS Cloquet
Nebraska
KZYK Santee
New Mexico
KGLP Gallup
New York
WRFA Jamestown
Cannon Radio Pittsford
Oregon
KWSO Warm Springs
Wisconsin
WOJB Hayward
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Recovery, cleanup and storm damage assessments are underway in Kotzebue, Alaska, after a coastal storm flooded the community this week.
The state has declared a disaster as emergency teams respond.
Reporter Megan Onders spoke with community members and officials about the devastation, but also the strength being felt across the community.
Interviews: Siikauruq Whiting, Saima Chase (Native Village of Kotzebue, Emergency Manager), Paulette Schuerch (Native Village of Kotzebue), Spike Milligrock (Disaster Program Manager, American Red Cross Alaska), Derek Haviland-Lie (Mayor)
Whether you missed the action – or want to relive it, check out our complete 2024 AFN coverage featuring a special newscast anchored by Jill Fratis from our flagship station KNBA and Alaska’s Native Voice, a three-part series hosted by Antonia Gonzales.
Koahnic Broadcast Corporation (KBC), KNBA 90.3FM, and Native Voice One (NV1) brought the energy and personality of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention to the radio.
The KBC news team led by Antonia Gonzales broadcast three special one-hour live programs, Alaska’s Native Voice: Live from AFN 2024, on Thursday, October 17, Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19.
Subscribe to the NV1 podcast to get all three episodes on demand or listen below.
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National Native News was at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill.
Anchor Antonia Gonzales along with Native America Calling host Shawn Spruce and Native Vote 2024 contributor Shaun Griswold from Source NM brought you special live coverage during Thursday night’s acceptance speech by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Listen to the full broadcast or watch it on YouTube.
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Native leaders and Leonard Peltier’s attorney say they’re continuing to advocate for his release from prison and plan to increase awareness efforts of their calls for freedom ahead of a possible July 11 parole board decision.
Peltier had a parole hearing on Monday.
The 79-year-old has spent most of his life in prison.
He was convicted in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
Peltier has long maintained his innocence.
Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective, was one of two witnesses to testify at the parole hearing.
Tilsen says NDN Collective has been advocating for his release and has been working on reentry plans including securing a house for Peltier in North Dakota.
Tilsen says at the parole hearing he testified about reentry plans and what Peltier’s release would mean for Indian Country.
His testimony included Native American history – boarding schools, religious freedom, and other Native rights.
“When we think about Leonard’s struggle, I told them, Indigenous people, oppressed people everywhere, see a little of their own struggle in Leonard. They see it. They align with it. They see a little of themselves in it.”
Additional testimony from Tilsen included the importance of Native language, culture and traditions.
The other person chosen to testify was a doctor. Peltier is said to be in failing health.
Kevin Sharp, Peltier’s attorney, says the efforts for release are being sought through three avenues – parole (through the parole board, which has 21 days/on or around July 11), executive clemency (through the president/White House), and compassionate release (through the Federal Bureau of Prisons).
“So, we’ve got all three of those avenues available to us and we’re gonna refile compassionate release and our clemency petition is pending.”
Sharp says plans are being made now ahead of the possible parole decision.
He says if parole is approved, an appeal is expected.
If that appeal is lost, then there will be a transition period of Peltier being moved to a medical facility.
Sharp says if parole is denied, the next step is to appeal, which could take years.
Sharp and Tilsen discussed Monday’s parole hearing, the possible decision, and next steps, during a Zoom meeting Tuesday. The meeting included other Native leaders and advocates.
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Antonia Gonzales and National Native News present highlights of the 2024 Native Youth Olympic (NYO) Games in Anchorage, Alaska. Athletes, coaches, and spectators brought the energy and personality to the games held this spring. The traditional games, which were originally depended on for survival, continue to develop the strength and skill of generations of Alaskan Native people. The NYO carries on the games by encouraging young people to strive for their personal best.
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Alaska Native people are using their language, culture, and the land as part of healing efforts from trauma. Elders, young people, community leaders, advocates, and others are helping communities across the state heal from the impacts of boarding schools, violence against women, and substance use. Antonia Gonzales concludes this two-part video series.
This story is a collaboration with First Nations Experience Television with support from the Public Welfare Foundation.
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The Yurok Tribe’s justice system is providing a path for healing with wellness and traditional values being vital parts of helping people. The Yurok Tribe’s Chief Judge Abby Abinanti explains how the wellness court is different, and highlights work off the reservation with her close connection to the Friendship House located in San Francisco, Calif, in the first of a two-part video series by Antonia Gonzales.
This story is a collaboration with First Nations Experience Television with support from the Public Welfare Foundation.
Koahnic Broadcast Corporation (KBC) and Native Voice One (NV1) brought the energy and personality of the Native Youth Olympic (NYO) Games to the radio.
The KBC news team led by Antonia Gonzales broadcast three special one-hour live programs, Alaska’s Native Voice: Live from NYO 2024 on Thursday, April 25, Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27.
Subscribe to the NV1 podcast to get all three episodes on demand or listen below.
The program featured interviews with athletes, coaches, NYO leaders, and veterans. The traditional games, which were originally depended on for survival, continue to develop the strength and skill of generations of Alaskan Native people. The NYO carries on the games by encouraging young people to strive for their personal best.
Producer/host Antonia Gonzales from National Native News was joined by Jill Fratis, Hannah Bissett, and Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA with commentary and floor coverage.
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
NYO 2024 PHOTO GALLERY
NYO 2024 VIDEO GALLERY
Voices of NYO
Stories of NYO
After three days of competition at the statewide Native Youth Olympic (NYO) Games in Anchorage, students have returned home to show off their medals for traditional games like the Two-Foot High Kick, the Kneel Jump, and the Seal Hop.
Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA has more.
This year more than 400 students took part in the games that are not so much about competition, but an opportunity for each athlete to do their best.
In Native Youth Olympic Games, competitors often try to encourage each other. Students say it’s the spirit of the games which sets them apart.
“My name is Camille. I’m from Kodiak. I love the togetherness that NYO brings us together. My name is Grayson Damien. I’m from Alakanuk. And I love Indian Stick Pull. My name is Maya Bogar and I’m from Chickaloon Native Village and my favorite thing about NYO is probably sportsmanship. My name is Merlin Machien. My favorite thing about NYO is how people connect.”
The games drew about 2,000 spectators a day, including elders like Peter Black, originally from Hooper Bay. He says although Anchorage is a big village, the games bring back old memories.
“I love NYO, because I used to do the same thing when I was growing up, but only in a village.”
57 teams competed in this year’s games, hosted by the Cook Inlet Tribal Council.
The 2024 Native Youth Olympics wrapped up after three days of competition.
KNBA’s Jill Fratis reports.
This year’s games saw more than 440 athletes, and 57 teams from all over the state. Koahnic Broadcast Corporation along with Native Voice One had an hour-long show every day of the event with former athletes, coaches, record holders, and organizers discussing the history, purpose, and changes that have happened over the years with the event.
Here’s some of the descriptions from the Cook Inlet Tribal Council’s YouTube page of the events that played on the jumbotron before every competition:
“The kneel jump was played to develop the skills hunters needed for jumping up quickly, off of ice, or off the ground, in the event they needed to get away from another animal that snuck up behind them. The seal hop was played to help build strength and endurance to pain while they hop along the ice imitating the motion of a seal. And when they got close enough to the seals taking naps on the ice, they would grab their harpoon off their back, and harpoon the seals.”
The games were held at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. People of all ages from newborns, infants to elders gathered at the arena. Native Youth Olympics began in 1971 by students who were living in Anchorage Boarding schools, and wanting to introduce the Native traditions of how their ancestors used these techniques to hunt, fish, and survive.
“My name is Maya Boger, and I’m from Chickaloon Native Village: my favorite thing about NYO is probably the sportsmanship. My name is Merlin Machen: my favorite thing about NYO is how people connect! When they travel. My name is Gracen Damian: I’m from Alakanuk. I love Indian Stick Pull. I’m Peter Black, originally from Hooper Bay: and I love NYO because I used to o the same thing when I was a kid growing up, only in the village.”
Brian Walker is Island Inupiat and Athabascan. Currently, he’s a Student Specialist for Indigenous Education at the Anchorage School District. Walker says that while these events help keep the history of the Indigenous past of hunting and fishing alive, it also helps educate those who don’t know about the culture.
“But when we share the knowledge of these games, to not only our people, but for non-Indigenous people. It really helps non-Indigenous (people) understand who we are, where we came from, and our traditional values, of looking back of where our people came from, and where they’re going. It’s so important.”
There is also Junior NYO, student athletes have a chance to be a part of those games from 1st-12th grade, and after grade school, they can even partake in the Arctic Winter Games, and the Winter Eskimo Indian Olympics.
Nicole Johnson is Inupiaq and has taken part in traditional games since she was in 5th grade. She’s won more than a hundred medals over the years and was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. This year, she was the head race official for NYO. She says once you become involved in Native Youth Olympics in any form, you always come back.
“It doesn’t just end at your senior year. Some people think it might. But it doesn’t, you can always come back and volunteer. You can offer your coaching. You can coach for teams. You can come back as an official. You can volunteer, there’s so many different opportunities with NYO to volunteer.”
The Native games are also gaining recognition outside of Alaska.
After three days of competition at the Statewide Native Youth Games in Anchorage, students have returned home to show off their medals for
traditional games like the Two-Foot High Kick and the Kneel Jump.
But, in their mind’s ear, they might hear this sound (seal call). Imagine hearing lots of these seal calls in a stadium full of people.
KNBA’s Rhonda McBride sought out the source of these sounds, a tradition that is as old as the games themselves.
The sound of enthusiastic crowds often fills the air at the Alaska Airlines Center, but at the Native Youth Games you hear that and more.
Although Samuel Mecham perfected the seal call during seal hunts in his hometown of Unalakleet, he’s happy to belt it out across a sea of people.
“Oh, it’s fun. It gets everybody riled up. And it gets people’s attention. And also, it’s like our way of shouting and cheering on your teammate. So like at a track meet, you’d yell at your teammates. Right? You’d yell their name and say keep on going. But here you would do a seal call.”
As the master of ceremonies at the Native Youth Games, Marjorie Tahbone uses the seal call to get athletes pumped up.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Antonia Gonzales is host and producer of the three one-hour special live programs, “Alaska’s Native Voice: Live from NYO 2024” on Thursday, April 25, Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 12 p.m. AKDT.
The program features interviews with athletes, coaches, fans, and other attendees.
The traditional games, which were originally depended on for survival, continue to develop the strength and skill of generations of Alaska Native people. The NYO carries on the games by encouraging young people to strive for their personal best.
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