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Suzanne Benally is a leader in Indigenous Rights advocacy, and serves as the Executive Director of Cultural Survival. She shares her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing Native American communities and Indigenous Peoples in general in the context of the Trump administration. Interview by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan), Indigenous Rights Radio producer based in South Africa.

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A proposed lithium mine at Peehee Mu’huh (Thacker Pass), Nevada, has attracted much attention. But those with the deepest ties to the land - descendants of those murdered at the Thacker Pass Massacre - have not been heard. In this podcast, we hear from Gary McKinney (Western Shoshone/ Northern Paiute) about the stuggles to protect sacred lands in the age of a lithium boom due to the transition to the "green" economy.

The Lakota LockUp Project advocates for American Indians affected by the justice system, to support innovative approaches for cultural and historical trauma survival, rebuilding lives, economic justice, traditional family services, substance and alcohol abuse treatment, and equal access to education, thus strengthening communities.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris(Khoisan)
Voices Robert Angelo and Theresa Tracke(Lakota)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.

Demetrius Johnson (Diné) is a #LandBack Organizer at Rapid City, South Dakota-based nonprofit NDN Collective. Originally from Tółaní, Ganado, Arizona, Johnson began community organizing shortly after being elected President of Kiva Club around the disastrous Gold King Mine spill that affected his people in 2015. He is also a long-standing lead organizer for The Red Nation, a coalition of Native and non-Native activists, educators, students, and community organizers based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, advocating Native liberation.

In this radio program we review the latest developments around Indigenous Peoples Day. We also hear what Christopher Columbus wrote about Indigenous Peoples of America in his diary.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Music: "Lights in the Forest",by Yarina, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.

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. 

Cultural Survival covers Indigenous Issues worldwide. As part of this work, our team joined the international negotiations of the 12th session of the Intersessional Working Group on Article 8(j) relating traditional knowledge, innovation and practices of Indigenous Peoples under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on November 12-16, 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland. We spoke to many Indigenous leaders to communicate their priorities to our wider Indigenous audience.

The world's largest Indigenous gathering, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, kicked off its 23rd session at UN Headquarters in New York. Indigenous delegates will champion self-determination and sovereignty for their communities, with a special focus on amplifying the voices of Indigenous youth. Cultural Survival is also attending the gatherings interviewing indigenous delegates about their self-determined priorities and their readiness to engage in high-level UN discussions.
Cultural Survival attended the UNPFII and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.

In this program, Indigenous rights radio producer Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan,South Africa) speaks to Janene Yazzie (Navajo, USA) Sustainable Development Coordinator at International Indian Treaty Council, about the impact that COVID-19 has on the Navajo people.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee Janene Yazzie
Music
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.

Cultural Survivals Indigenous Rights Radio got in touch with Professor Michael Yellowbird via Skype in July 2020 after hearing about how indigenous peoples in Brazil and indeed other places in the world, are struggling to come to terms with the less obvious effects of COVID-19.

Muchos sucesos que involucran a los Pueblos Indígenas están pasando alrededor del mundo. ¿Sabes cuáles son? Como parte del derecho a la información, Cultural Survival presenta este noticiero del mes de junio de 2025 con notas relevantes de Norte, Centro y Sur América, África y Asia, el cual puedes escuchar, descargar y compartir de forma gratuita. Música de introducción: - “Burn Your Village to the Ground” de The Halluci Nation. Derechos de autor, propiedad de The Halluci Nation. Usada bajo su permiso. Redacción: - Rosy Sul González, maya kaqchikel, Cultural Survival, Guatemala.

Antonio Gonzales has spent many years working with international forums for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. He has witnessed achievements but draws attention to the fact that indigenous communities across the world are struggling to bring their governments to the table for discussion. He is currently advocating for an International Convention.  

Antonio Gonzales explains how without proper enforcement governments, cooperations, and extractive industries willingly ignore frameworks like FPIC  which are designed to protect the rights of indigneous peoples. 

Entrevista grabada el primer dia del 14 session del Foro Permanente para Cuestiones Indigenas, Abril 2015 en Nueva York por Rosy Gonzales con Yolanda Teran, Kichwa de Ecuador.

Vicky Tauli-Corpuz talks about the importance of Indigenous Peoples using the range of international instruments and mechanisms in place, to pressure their governments to implement changes. 

Vicky Tauli-Corpuz talks about her visit to Paraguay in her capacity as UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. She discusses the process and the preparation of these visits, highlighting the need for autonomy and security for the people she talks with. 

It is an opportunity to meet with Indigenous communities, civil society organisations, government ministers and the private sector and encourage dialogue across society.  

Dalee Sambo discusses the exchange between the Brazilian government's representative and representatives of Brazil’s Indigenous tribes at the UNPFII 2015. Violations of Land Rights continue in Brazil, including the criminalization of Indigenous Peoples who are trying to defend their rights to land.  

John Scott highlights the importance of using processes established by Indigenous communities when gaining free, prior and informed consent for activities which will take place on their lands. He also talks about the importance of including traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples at the UN Permanent Forum.  

Escucha a un resumen de la primera semana del Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas de la ONU. 

The WCIP was a meeting of the UN General Assembly where the concerns of Indigenous Peoples were discussed, along with best practices on how to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

This series of 24 PSAs in the Native American language Tewa, is based on the Outcome Document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, which took place in September of 2014 in New York. Translated from English, the PSAs highlight specific passages of the Outcome Document in an effort to inform audiences of exactly what the document contains and encourages action.

The WCIP Outcome Document analyses the existing UN mechanisms for implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and details ways in which they can be improved.

This series of 24 PSAs in the Native American language Tewa, is based on the Outcome Document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, which took place in September of 2014 in New York. Translated from English, the PSAs highlight specific passages of the Outcome Document in an effort to inform audiences of exactly what the document contains and encourages action.

The purpose of the WCIP Outcome Document is to consolidate the progress made thus far on implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, modify existing measures, and set out new commitments. It makes recommendations for how we can put the words of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into action.

A true process of consultation and cooperation means that States should obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent by going through Indigenous Peoples’ own representative institutions.

This series of 24 PSAs in the Native American language Tewa, is based on the Outcome Document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, which took place in September of 2014 in New York. Translated from English, the PSAs highlight specific passages of the Outcome Document in an effort to inform audiences of exactly what the document contains and encourages action.

Indigenous Peoples have the right to access their religious and cultural sites, as well as receive reparation of their ceremonial objects and human remains.

This series of 24 PSAs in the Native American language Tewa, is based on the Outcome Document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, which took place in September of 2014 in New York. Translated from English, the PSAs highlight specific passages of the Outcome Document in an effort to inform audiences of exactly what the document contains and encourages action.

Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge of sustainable development, especially with regards to the environment, should be taken into account when national and international policies on climate change are being developed.

This series of 24 PSAs in the Native American language Tewa, is based on the Outcome Document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, which took place in September of 2014 in New York. Translated from English, the PSAs highlight specific passages of the Outcome Document in an effort to inform audiences of exactly what the document contains and encourages action.