Radio Works

Billie Jo Tabobondung: The UrbaNish

All radio selections will be available for listening throughout the festival in the Radio Lounge (p.21). Radio and new media works are available for viewing in the Mediatheque. For access to the Mediatheque, please check in at the Guest Services desk in the Miles Nadal JCC lobby to gain entry to the lower level studio. The Mediatheque is open to festival delegates and is open from 10am – 7pm, Thursday, October 18 – Sunday, October 21.

Apocalypto Harlan McKosato USA, 59:00, 2006, Radio

The reviews of Mel Gibson’s movie Apocalypto are mixed and controversy is rising. Some claim the movie is a total fabrication and racist while others see it as a spiritual experience with a prophetic message. How does the storyline compare to the true story of the Mayan people?

Harlan McKosato is a member of the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma. He has worked at Native American Calling as a producer, director, and managing editor since 1996.

Good Medicine Radio Show: Tobacco Show Rita Chretien, Wanbdi Wakita Canada, 60:00, 2007, Radio

Interspersing the latest in country music, the Tobacco Show explores the issue of traditional and current use of tobacco for ceremonial purposes by First Nations people, compared with the current use of tobacco in cigarettes.

Rita Chretien (Cree) began her career in media three years ago as the News Director for CKLB Radio. She is currently the producer and co-host of The Good Medicine Radio Show.

Wanbdi Wakita is a Dakota Elder and Medicine Man. For 17 years he acted in the role as Elder at the Stony Mountain Prison in Manitoba. His role as co-host of The Good Medicine Radio Show is the first time he has reached out to people in this medium.

Native Radio Theatre Project Frank Blythe USA, 60:00, 2006, Radio

The Native Radio Theatre Project consist of three original plays: Melba’s Medicine, The Best Play to Grow Pumpkins, and Super Indian.

Melba’s Medicine, written by Rose Yvonne Colletta, features a Native Grandmother who hosts her own radio talk show and gives out sage advice.

The Best Place to Grow Pumpkins, written by Rhiana Yazzie, tells the story of a young girl who helps her grandfather fight his diabetes through a magical pumpkin patch.

Super Indian, written by Arigon Starr, is about an Indian with super powers and his sidekicks General Bear and Diogi.

Frank Blythe is a founding member and Executive Director of Native American Public Telecommunications, a national producer and distributor of American Indian film, video and radio programming to PBS and AIROS. For over 30 years, Frank has developed projects that impact the reach of Native people in the media.

Native Radio Theatre Project: Why Opossums Tail is Bare Frank Blythe USA, 29:00, 2006, Radio

Why Opossums Tail is Bare is an adaptation, performed by a ninth-grade theatre arts class at a Cherokee High School, of the Cherokee story by James Mooney.

Frank Blythe is a founding member and Executive Director of Native American Public Telecommunications, a national producer and distributor of American Indian film, video and radio programming to PBS and AIROS. For over 30 years, Frank has developed projects that impact the reach of Native people in the media.

Racism on the Radio Harlan McKosato USA, 59:00, 2007, Radio

Racist and sexist remarks made by radio talk show host Don Imus about the Rutgers women’s basketball team sparked uproar, setting off a national debate that led to his firing. A city councilman and radio talk show host from Houston made derogatory comments about Native Americans with little fanfare. Where do Native Americans stand on the issue of racism on the radio?

Harlan McKosato is a member of the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma. He has worked at Native American Calling as a producer, director, and managing editor since 1996.

Dawn Dumont: Red Moon, Trickster vs. Jesus Christ

Red Moon Dawn Dumont Canada, 53:54, 2007, Radio

Red Moon is an Indigenous adaptation of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Dawn Dumont (Cree) is a comedy writer for television, theatre and film. She is also a stand-up comedian who has toured Canada and the United States.

Road to Reclamation Wilma Green Canada, 160:00, 2006, Radio

The Road to Reclamation is a 30-part documentary on the brief history of the Six Nations people and the facts surrounding the reclamation of land by Six Nations residents. The documentary gives us information on the Plank Road, the Two Row Wampum, the Great Law, Warriors and Land Claims and how it connects with current events in Caledonia.

Wilma Green is a former curator of Chiefswood, the birthplace of Mohawk poetess, E. Pauline Johnson, and was a member of the Chiefswood Restoration Committee. She has also been a volunteer since 1993, with the Phone-In Radio Show on CKRZ, handling the telephones, doing research and writing several plays presented live, on-air by local community members.

Saving the Klingon Culture Harlan McKosato USA, 58:14, 2007, Radio

Due to leaving their home planet of Kronos and intermingling with outside cultures, Klingons are now facing losing their race, culture and language. Saving the Klingon Culture is a hilarious piece that explores the similarities between Indigenous people and Klingons.

Harlan McKosato is a member of the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma. He has worked at Native American Calling as a producer, director, and managing editor since 1996.

Trickster vs. Jesus Christ Dawn Dumont Canada, 15:00, 2005, Radio

The Trickster takes Jesus to court to sue him for stealing the soul of an Indigenous woman, Wanda Daywalker, who is preparing to become a nun.

Dawn Dumont (Cree) is a comedy writer for television, theatre and film. She is also a stand-up comedian who has toured Canada and the United States.

The UrbaNish Billie Jo Tabobondung Canada, 11:00, 2006, Radio

A spoken-word piece that incorporates music and characters to explore identity through an urban mixed-blood perspective, The UrbaNish creates characters in reference to the different ideologies of Indigenous peoples.

Billie Jo Tabobondung (Ojibway) is a fine artist working in various mediums. She won the Charles Street Video art prize for proficiency in audio production.