Let's Talk Native with John Kane

Have Native communities become a part of the assimilation process? Police, churches and the governing systems implemented on most Native territories have no ties to our traditional forms leadership and conflict resolution. Very few people teach the true history of what happened to the Native population on this continent, and as a result of this knowledge gap, our people have been absorbed into the...

Throughout history the use of metaphors in Native cultures has often been mischaracterized as proof of a broader spiritual or religious belief. European settlers used these mischaracterizations to cast us as primitive savages with pagan beliefs ready to be dominated. In reality the use of metaphors to describe our immediate surroundings and environment are really about the emotional, not spiritual...

How can we learn about the history of colonialism, genocide, slavery and American imperialism and not feel a tremendous amount of anger? We must use our anger and outrage to drive our fight for change. →→→→ Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! www.patreon.com/letstalknative ←←←←

John discuses how allies and other Native people can get involved in social justice activism. Learn what you can do to help create spaces where Native activists can grow and effectively communicate their messages. Most importantly, John discusses what you should not do if you want to get involved and support Native and social justice activists. Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! http...

Our system is different from the hierarchy based systems of Europe and the United States. Our sovereignty is a birthright. Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

Line 3 is the next battle line for Native people fighting the extractive industries and fossil fuels. Enbridge plans to run this tar sands oil pipeline through treaty lands and the wild rice region of Minnesota. Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

In a follow up to episode #522, Tiny DeCory and Eileen Janis join John to talk about the Bear Program and its suicide prevention outreach initiatives on the Pine Ridge territory. Beginning as a youth education group, the Bear Program shifted its focus to suicide prevention after a wave of teen suicides swept across Pine Ridge. Tiny and Eileen discuss their ongoing efforts to tackle this mental hea...

Documentary filmmaker Noel Bass joins the show to talk to John about his new documentary focusing on the catastrophic youth suicide epidemic affecting the Pine Ridge territory and the two women fighting back with limited resources to stem the tide of a mental health crisis.

The 31 billion dollars included in the most recent COVID-19 stimulus bill is not reparations and it's a long way from back-filling the gross under funding of the past. It doesn't make us "even" or anywhere near square with the debts and obligations that the U.S. government has fallen behind on. If you think this was a "gift" John is here to remind of the Cobell suit that the Obama administration s...

White supremacy is a force that has fostered tensions not only with white people but also within other marginalized peoples. Regardless of preferences, we need to check ourselves. There is no place for racism, bigotry and bias among and between other minority groups. Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

Almost every social ill that plagues our territories is a direct result of poverty brought on by the large, systemic policy decisions of federal, state and tribal governments. Our young people are particularly affected by these social ills, and more often than not, deal with the direct consequences of these systemic issues every day. It's time for the activist community to take on the challenge of...

It's tough to talk about Women's History without addressing the contemporary issues faced by Native woman. Heroizing figures of our past is not really our way so for this Women’s History Month let’s talk about our women today and the threats they face! Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

"Tone policing is one of many ways that dominant culture 'polices' people of color. It is often used – whether subconsciously or intentionally – to put this person 'back in their place.' It doesn’t just attempt to discredit what the person is saying. It implies that they are not worthy of the time and attention until they play by the rules of the oppressor. And these rules are rooted in sexist and...

The Cambridge Central School Board of Education held a meeting on March 11, 2021 and found a way to not vote on their race-based mascot. For months the school board promoted their March meeting as the day for the vote, but in a surprise act of evasion, the school board opted to delay the vote until the end of the school year. Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com...

Paul Delaronde (Tekarontake) joins John to discuss the formation of The Warrior Society. Starting from their humble origins as a male singing society touring native territories, all the way up to arming themselves and protecting various native communities when called upon. Join Paul and John as they discuss the formation, funding, organizing, social programs and impact of The Warrior Society over...

Paul Delaronde (Tekarontake) joins John to discuss the formation of The Warrior Society. Starting from their humble origins as a male singing society touring native territories, all the way up to arming themselves and protecting various native communities when called upon. Join Paul and John as they discuss the formation, funding, organizing, social programs and impact of The Warrior Society over...

With more than 70% of our people living away from Native communities, how do we represent ourselves? Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

Can we hold faith, religion and churches responsible for the atrocities committed against our people? How do religious Native people reconcile the atrocities of the past with their current indoctrination and complicity in our oppression while simultaneously declaring themselves to be followers of the Christian faith? Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalk...

With all legal remedies exhausted, the Seneca Nation is preparing to cut a check to New York state for over four hundred million dollars. Only one option remains but will they press the new leadership at the Interior Department for a solution? John breaks down the three questions the Senecas should demand answers to. Check out John's in-depth explanation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act here! h...

As John's fight to end the use of a race based mascot at his old high school heats up some are trying to call out criminal charges from 30 years ago in an attempt to discredited John and his message. It's time for John to tell his story. Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

We cannot be silent because silence is complicity but we need to proceed in a way that discourages some on the edge from digging in further and entrenching themselves in racist beliefs. Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

Who are "Native Americans?" Are they distinct and autonomous? Have they become part of the American subculture? Are they slowly losing their culture and identity as the systems of oppression and assimilation grind them into dust? Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

The U.S. launched its assimilation program in 1819. Residential schools would follow from Lincoln all the way to Kennedy and throughout the civil rights movement. Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

We cannot view the events of history in a vacuum. We have to put the tragic events of our history in to context. Who was the sitting president? What else was happening in the US and the rest of the world while massacres and land left was occurring? Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

There is always a lot of talk about the need for unity and building support for change but a small group of strong, like-minded activists can accomplish far more than a group of performative activists and media pundits. Like what you hear? Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative