American Indians gain own call-in radio show> Program deals with Native American issues

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The red light flashed, the phone blared and Ron from Rapid City took the traditional Indian Talking Circle nationwide.

The South Dakota man was the first caller for “Native America Calling,” a radio talk show that debuted Monday. Producers say the Monday through Friday program is the first national talk show devoted exclusively to American Indian issues.

In the traditional Talking Circle, tribal members sit around a circle and pass a feather. The one holding the feather gets to talk about anything.

On Monday, the telephone replaced the feather, and callers were able to talk to Assistant Interior Secretary for Indian Affairs Ada Deer.

In a nerve-wracking beginning for host George Tiger, the first 15 minutes went without a call. Tiger stumbled while reading some promotional material and talked too fast as he struggled through a choppy conversation with Deer, who was in Washington, D.C.

Producer Pamila Belgarde implored Tiger to “Give ’em the number, give ’em the number, you’re not giving ’em the number enough.”

Then Rapid City Ron called 1-800-99-NATIVE. He was listening to the program on KILI-AM out of Porcupine, S.D., one of 14 Indian-owned stations in seven states that carried the debut program, and wanted to talk about the future of higher education for American Indians.

“The guy who called probably doesn’t realize he was an historical point in the program,” Tiger said. “Once we got that first call, there was a sense of relief because we knew the show was going.”

Tiger and the producers will try to keep the show’s momentum going this week by featuring American Indian rap artists, a tribute to Indian war veterans, and a health and wellness show.

“Native America Calling” is co-produced by the Lincoln, Neb.-based Native American Public Broadcasting Consortium and the Alaska Public Radio Network from KUNM-AM, the University of New Mexico’s radio station.

The show is designed to be the anchor program on the American Indian Radio on Satellite Network, which is being formed to broadcast to Indian stations around the country. Frank Blythe, executive director of the consortium, said 29 stations have access to the network, but many were waiting to see what the call-in show sounded like before airing it.

Tiger loosened up after his first call, and the rest of the hour-long program was smooth. Everyone involved tried to take it in stride, but at 38 after the hour, producers hit unexpected heights when all five lines lit up and the darkened studio twinkled iridescent red.

As Tiger prepared for the post-production meeting, he pointed out some areas where he needs to get better — such as not talking so fast. But he said everything went pretty well for Day One.

“I feel relieved,” he said. “Not in a sense that it’s over. But in a sense that the first show is done and that gives us an outlook in a very positive direction.”