Wisdom Radio

Wisdom of the Elders: Series Two

Our second series of public radio programs, with the theme, “Native Nations Along with the Lewis and Clark Trail ” includes thirteen nations along the eastern portion of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Trail system. Program segments feature the oral history and cultural arts of indigenous elders, historians, environmentalists, storytellers, and song carriers from Shawnee, Otoe, Omaha, Yankton, Sioux, Arikara, Mandan, Hidatsa, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Gros Ventre, Assiniboine, Blackfeet and Shoshone tribes. The series of eight one-hour programs are hosted by Arlie Neskahi (Dine).

Each one-hour program opens with a Historical Introduction which shares expedition and tribal history and provides context for the remaining features in the program.

Elder Wisdom, produced by Brian Bull (Nez Perce), features oral accounts from tribal elders who reveal stories about the lives and character of exemplary grandparents and ancestors.

Sacred Landscape, produced by Judy Bluehorse Skelton (Nez Perce/Cherokee), highlights native elders’ stories regarding their tribe’s “sacred geography.”

Tribal Rhythms, produced by Clark Salisbury and Larry Johnson, scripted by Milt and Jamie Lee (Lakota), and narrated by Nico Wind (Assiniboine), relates the history of tribal music and presents traditional music selections.

Contemporary Rhythms, produced by Milt and Jamie Lee, highlights the work of contemporary tribal musicians.

Turtle Island Storytellers, spotlights tribal storytellers who share traditional or contemporary stories that illuminate the roots of their cultural identity.

This series was funded by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail System, National Parks Service, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Wisdom of the Elders: Series Three

Wisdom of the Elders Radio Program: Series Three includes eight one-hour American Indian cultural magazine radio programs with the theme “Native Nations along the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Trail.” Programs feature thirteen native nations living along the western side of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail from the Bitterroot Mountains to the Columbia River. A rich mixture of oral history and cultural arts from tribal elders, historians, storytellers, artists, song carriers and environmentalists from the following nations: Lemhi Shoshone; Nez Perce or Nimi’ipuu; Salish, Kootenai, Flathead; Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla; Yakama; Wasco, Warm Springs, Northern Paiute; Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde; and Chinook tribes. The radio series is hosted by Arlie Neskahi (Dine, or Navajo).

Each program contains:

Historical Introduction shares expedition and tribal history to provide context for the features, and six cultural arts features.

Elder Wisdom, produced by Brian Bull (Nez Perce), features oral accounts from tribal elders who reveal stories about the lives and character of exemplary grandparents and ancestors.

Speaking Native with Don Addison (Choctaw), gives listeners an opportunity to learn a new word or phrase in the language of the featured tribe.

Sacred Landscape, produced by Judy BlueHorse-Skelton (Nez Perce/Cherokee), highlights tribes’ “sacred geography.”

Tribal Rhythms, written by Don Addison (Choctaw), produced by Clark Salisbury and Larry Johnson and narrated by Nico Wind (Assiniboine), relates the history of tribal music and features selections of music.

Health and Healing, produced by Rose High Bear in partnership with KCUW community radio at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Pendleton, Oregon, informs native communities about the growing epidemic of Type Two Diabetes and inspire them to develop habits that will prevent the disease.

Artist’s Circle, produced by the late Bruce Crespin (Juaneno Band of California Mission Indians) focuses on tribal artists and their gifts of art, both traditional and contemporary.

Turtle Island Storytellers spotlights tribal storytellers who share traditional or contemporary stories that illuminate the roots of their cultural identity.

Funding has been provided by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail System, National Parks Service, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.