KUNM

Native American

Native Americans Tell Their Own Superhero Stories At Indigenous Comic Con

By • Nov 30, 2017
Megan Kamerick

Native Americans have long objected to their treatment by popular culture. They're often not represented at all, and when they are, they're cast as sidekicks or caricatures. So Native people are working to tell their own stories in films and comics.

Recently, many of these makers gathered for the second annual Indigenous Comic Con at Isleta Resort & Casino near Albuquerque.

UNM Gets $7M Grant For Behavioral Health Research

By • Sep 29, 2017
Allan Ajifo, CC 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

New Mexico’s flagship university has received a $7 million grant to open a new behavioral health center. Researchers will work directly with people in communities dealing with addiction and mental health issues. 

UNM Teen Pregnancy Prevention Research Cut Short

By • Jul 19, 2017
abhijit chendvankar / Flickr via Creative Commons

New Mexico has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the nation, and now that the Trump Administration has slashed funding for teen pregnancy prevention projects, researchers here say it’s like the rug has been pulled out from under them.

Rippy And The Sillyettes

By • Sep 1, 2016
Rippy and the Sillyettes

This week we had a live performance from the band Rippy and the Sillyettes from Gallup, New Mexico. The girls in the band performed their original music, including a song about the late Ashlynne Mike. Great music, a family events calendar, the KUNM Kids Birthday Club and the fabulous KUNM Kids Crew. Join us from 9 to 10am every Saturday! This show was broadcast live from KUNM on September 3, 2016.

Native Activist Talks Police Violence

By • Jul 14, 2016
Melissa Tso member of the Red Nation and the Party for Socialism and Liberation

Police violence against people of color has been at the forefront of national debate in recent months. And in New Mexico, a group advocating for indigenous concerns called the Red Nation has been active on this issue since the killing of James Boyd two years ago.

Searching For Answers On Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

By Ed Williams • Oct 7, 2014
Ed Williams-KUNM

Terry Trujillo’s family has been facing an ordeal that would be familiar to a surprising number of Americans. Holding back tears, she remembers the moment she had to explain to her adopted nephew that his severe learning disabilities, memory problems and behavior issues were the result of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

“The little boy would say ‘Well what’s that, what do you mean?’ And it’s hard to sit there and tell a child it means that your mother drank alcohol while you were in her stomach, and to see their face. Because they know it’s wrong,” Trujillo said.

Homeless In New Mexico

By Ed Williams • Aug 13, 2014
cinocino via Flickr / Creative Commons License

KUNM Call In Show 8/14 8a: The recent brutal murders of two Navajo men in Albuquerque have brought questions about homelessness in New Mexico into the national spotlight. We'll take a look at what policy and social changes are needed to improve the health and well-being of people without shelter.

We'd like to hear from you! Email callinshow@kunm.org, post your comments online, or call in live during the show. 

Guests: 

Native American Cancer Rates Remain Static

By Tristan Ahtone • Jan 7, 2014
National Cancer Institute

New statistics released by the American Cancer Society show that nationally there's been a 20 percent decrease in risk of death from all cancers. For breast and colon cancer, that rate of decline is closer to 35 percent. However, in the Southwest, there's a slightly different picture.

Smoking Rates During Pregnancy Highest Among Native Americans

By Tristan Ahtone • Nov 19, 2013
Debora Cartagena, CDC

Native Americans have the highest rates of smoking before, during and after pregnancy than any other ethnic group in the nation. That’s according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control.

According to the CDC, 55 percent of Native American women smoked before pregnancy. During pregnancy, that rate dropped significantly to 26 percent. However, that rate was still the highest of any racial or ethnic group in the nation.

Centennial Care Tribal Opt-Out Clears Committee

By Tristan Ahtone • Feb 14, 2013

A bill that would allow Medicaid eligible tribal citizens in New Mexico to opt-out of the states Medicaid plan, Centennial Care, has taken it’s first steps in the legislature. HB 376, which gives Native Americans the ability to opt-out of Centennial Care has passed out of committee.

Under the states proposed Medicaid program entitled Centennial Care, all Medicaid enrollees in the state would be required to enroll in one of four managed care organizations (MCO) to receive healthcare.

For New Mexico’s tribal population, this proposal is causing problems.