Tuesday, June 14, 2022 – Native in the Spotlight: Raven Chacon

06/14/22 • 56 min

Diné composer Raven Chacon originally bristled at the invitation to create a work for the annual Thanksgiving concert at a Milwaukee Catholic Church. But he was drawn to the opportunity to write music features the magnificent organ at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. That work, Voiceless Mass, led to Chacon being the first Native composer to win a Pulitzer Prize in Music. Chacon returns to the Native America Calling studio for a discussion about his art and his inspiring journey.

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Monday, June 13, 2022 – A promising trend on college tuition

The Metropolitan State University of Denver will provide Native students waivers for both tuition and fees. The move follows action by the Colorado Legislature last fall to offer in-state tuition to any student enrolled in a federally recognized tribe with historical ties to Colorado. The state of Oregon and the University of California system also have tuition waivers for Native students. Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce looks at the trend and who it helps with Phenocia Bauerle (Crow), director of the Native American Student Development at the University of California-Berkeley; Karen Diver (Chippewa), senior advisor to the president for Native American Affairs at the University of Minnesota; and Joseph Lindsay (Chemehuevi), director of admission and operation at Berkeley Law.

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Wednesday, June 15, 2022 – Honoring Wilma Mankiller

Wilma Mankiller’s image on the U.S. quarter coin is the latest recognition for the pioneering Cherokee leader. Among her other honors was the Presidential Medal of Freedom. During the event celebrating her likeness on the quarter, Principle Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. said, years after her death, Mankiller "keeps changing the world for the better". Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce looks back at Mankiller’s legacy as an advocate for Cherokee people and the tribe’s first female principal chief.