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Voices of Maize, by CS Radio Producer Shaldon Ferris. The importance of maize in South African culture is impossible to overstate. Listen to Shaldon Ferris describe some of the uses of this staple in his culture, and the variety cultures found throughout South Africa.

The PBS televisions show “Molly of Denali” was selected for a George Foster Peabody Award in the children’s and youth category this week.

Tanka bars are probably the most recognizable Native American food products in the U.S.. In this radio program, Dawn Sherman, CEO of Native American Natural Foods, takes us through the Tanka's history, past challenges, as well as present day aspirations.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Dawn Sherman (Lakota, Shawnee, Delaware)
Music : "Saami Drum" by Tyler, used with permission
"Burn your village to the ground" by A Tribe called Red, used with permission.

In this Afrikaans Language radio program, Indigenous Rights Radio's Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan, Johannesburg) receives a telephone call from Piet Berends and Willem Swarts (Khoisan, Northern Cape). They speak about survival in the Kalahari Desert and the hoodia plant.
This program is in Afrikaans.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Interviewees: Piet Berends (Pictured) and Willem Swarts
Music: "Kora Kalabash and Hum" by Johannes Davids, used with permission

Humanity NPC travelled to the home of Rooibos Tea in Wuperthal, South Africa, to talk to the Indigenous people there about the origins of the tea, and how it had been in their families for generations. This podcast also discusses the benefit sharing agreement, which promises that a benefit of the sales of the tea will go to the Indigenous Khoi and San people of the region and what it means to the people of Wuperthal.
Produced by Humanity NPC
Music by Collin Fredericks
Funded by OXFAM South Africa
Image by Tristen Taylor

The Koena Art Institute celebrates creativity, openness, tolerance, and generosity. We aim to be inclusive where diverse cultural, artistic, social, and political positions are welcome. Committed to sharing the most thought-provoking modern, fine and contemporary art, and hope you will join us in exploring the art, ideas, and issues of our time.

We interview Wilhelmina Van Dyk who coordinated the Khoikhoi language gathering in South Africa. This event put the Khoekhoegowab language in the spotlight and left attendees with basic vocabulary of the language after a few days.

Produced by : Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Wilhemina Van Wyk
Music: "Burn your village to the ground", by A Tribe Called Red - used with permission.
"Avantgarde" by Tyso, used with permission

South Africa has been branded as “the Rainbow Nation” because of the diversity of its citizens. The country boasts a very liberal constitution and eleven official languages, which however do not include Indigenous languages. What is becoming more and more apparent lately is the exclusion of the Khoi and San languages especially from school curricula, radio, and television. IYX Radio is a new internet radio station that hopes to change the narrative.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Sharri Cannel (San)

Fred Nez-Keams is a Navajo Musician and Flute Maker. In this Interview, Veronica Valente learns all about Fred's journey.
Produced by Veronica Valente (Cultural Survival Intern)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Fred Nez-Keams (Navajo)
Music: "Lights in the Forest" by Yarina, used with permission
Image: Screenshot of Fred Nez-Keams with a flute.

Riverside FM and Cultural Survivals Indigenous Rights Radio are embarking on a project that will see the last fluent speaker of the N/uuki language of the San people, record an audio dictionary.
Produced by Riverside FM
Music "Anania2" by the Baba Project, used with permission.
Image: Riverside FM Logo

According to ockbaywaywampum.com, "wampum is the bead cut from the Quahog shell, its distinctive purple and white bands create beautiful natural diversity in the material, which can be smoothed to a high polished shine. The Quahog clam is geographically limited to the coastal waters between Maine and Long Island and was harvested for food and made into jewelry by the coastal peoples of the North-Eastern region.

Bush Radio is a popular and pioneering community radio station in South Africa. The station broadcasts programs in English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa from Salt River, Cape Town on 89.5 MHz FM, with a music and talk format aimed at the 18 to 39 age group.
In this podcast, Bush FM discusses the resurgence of Khoi and San languages in Southern Africa.
Produced by Bush FM.

In this radio program, Bush Radio 89.5 FM in Cape Town talks to Chris Nissen, The Human Rights Commissioner of South Africa on the importance of revitalizing Indigenous Languages.

Produced by Bush Radio
Interviewee: Chris Nissen

Leya Hale, 36, lives in St. Paul. She was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She is Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Navajo. She is a storyteller, a documentary filmmaker, and a producer with Twin Cities PBS (TPT), where she’s been working for the past eight years. Her recent film, "Bring Her Home," addresses the epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in the United States. 

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council.
The twenty-first session of the Permanent Forum is happening from April 25th to May 6th, 2022, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
This year's special theme is “Indigenous Peoples, business, autonomy and the human rights principles of due diligence including Free, Prior and Informed Consent”

Over the past 25 years, Richard A. Grounds (Yuchi), Ph.D., has worked with Yuchi Elders to create new Yuchi speakers and bring his language back into his community, as well as advocating for Indigenous Peoples' language rights globally. He is currently Chair of the Global Indigenous Languages Caucus and Executive Director of the Yuchi Language Project. An article by Dr. Grounds on Yuchi language revitalization in the face of intellectual colonialism appears in Indigenous Languages and the Promise of Archives, from the University of Nebraska Press.

Leya Hale lives in St. Paul. She was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She is Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Navajo. She is a storyteller, a documentary filmmaker, and a producer with Twin Cities PBS (TPT), where she’s been working for the past eight years. Her  film, "Bring Her Home," addresses the epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in the United States. 

Indigenous Women all around the world are subjected to marginalization and inequality.
As we commemorate International Women's Day, we celebrate the work of Lukretia Booysen (Griekwa, Nama), an Indigenous change maker who is the curator of The Koena Art Institute. Booysen tells us about the Institute's collaboration with the Iziko Art Museum.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Lukretia Booysen (Griekwa, Nama)
"Anania by the Baba Project, Used with Permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission

Sound and Soil is a live, collaborative, and experimental performance that took place in Nababeep, South Africa. Situated in the far Northern Cape Province, 50 kms north of Springbok and 65 kms from the Namibian border post Vioolsdrift, the performance included a collaboration with the Nama Stap Dansers from Steinkopf. Craig Beckett from Indigenous Youth Exchange Africa attended the event.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee Craig Beckett (Naro, Nama)
"Lights in the forest" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.

Can language be used as a skill? - The South African Nama Development Association is an organization who is recognizing the value in teaching youth the Nama language, an ancient language spoken by Indigenous Southern African people in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Lelani Jacobs (Nama)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission

In this Afrikaans language radio program, Catherine Wiese from Valley FM in Worcester, South Africa interviews Piet Berends (San) on a walk undertaken to get in touch with nature, and to celebrate the life of plants and animals.
Produced by Valley FM.

After the sun, the moon and the stars were placed in the sky, days and nights were made, as well as the four seasons. The weather changed and it was no longer agreeable. It became too warm or too cold. This was hard on the First people since they still lived in brush dwellings or in caves. The people started complaining about the weather but didn’t know what to do.

Voice and script:
- Chad Valdez, Navajo.

Language diversity, multilingual education, and the development of a deeper appreciation of linguistic and cultural traditions worldwide are all encouraged by the dissemination of mother tongues. The purpose of this program is to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance, and dialogue, and to remind us of the vital role that languages play in preserving and transmitting cultural heritage.
To commemorate International Mother Language Day we got in touch with correspondents from Progress Radio In Nigeria, who filled us in on the significance of mother tongue in that region.

Chad Valdez (Diné) is a writer currently residing in Denver, CO, and working as a bookseller. He holds a Master's degree in Fine Arts in Fiction with a minor in Native American studies from New Mexico State University where he was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. He has taught undergraduate courses in English and Creative Writing where he was able to share his love of Indigenous storytelling and understanding of epistemology. His writing has appeared in Windward Review, CBR.com among other outlets. This is Chads audio story called 'Split Decision'.

The Cultural Survival Bazaars are a series of cultural festivals, organized by Indigenous Peoples’ rights organization Cultural Survival, that provide Indigenous artists and artisans, cooperatives, and their representatives from around the world the chance to sell their work directly to the public.
Each event features traditional and contemporary crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry, home goods, and accessories from dozens of countries.