Wahwahtay Benais: The Thunderbird Within the Northern Lights

by Doug MacRostie

The oppression, hardship and discrimination that Native Americans have lived for the last 500 years is something that is very difficult to put into words. The same pain and struggle they continue to face today while fighting to maintain who they are as a people.

Using music, Wahwahtay Benais has captured and expressed that plight in a very powerful way. From the Leech Lake Rez, living in Ball Club, his name references the Thunderbird that comes from within the Northern Lights. Wahwahtay is a hip-hop/rap artist with an intense and emotional message, and it is a true honor to have him join me in-studio this week on Centerstage MN.

I first heard him thanks to a video for his song Indigenous Holocaust (included below). It took my breath away. It brought tears to my eyes. It made me want to change the world. In a time of dumbed-down raps and wearing riches as robes, Wahwahtay is a much needed breath of fresh air working to empower youth and preserve Annishinaabe traditions and language. Do NOT miss this.

Defend the Rez

To set the mood right for the interview, we'll hear from Brother Ali - MN's premiere hip-hop artist, and More Than Lights; all of which have socially conscious lyrics and try to bring a voice to the voiceless.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Culturology 12-16: Log Church and Good Food

by Travis Ryder

 This edition of 'Culturology' features a piece by Justin Cook on the beautiful, 102-year old Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in the west Range town of Coleraine.  The city's founder/designer and Oliver Mining superintendent John C. Greenway was a charter member.  By 1987, the congregation could no longer maintain the landmark.  The City took ownership and a local group took action to preserve the sturdy structure and make it available for special events.  The 'Christmas in the Country' concert, held in the church each December, benefits the preservation fund.

Also featured this week, Heidi Holtan's documentary takes us to the garlic fields of Itasca County and several co-operative grocery stores in our region. 'RealGoodFood' is another in the series of documentary pieces produced by KAXE staff as part of a recent training course.

Also, the Culture Calendar and a look back in this week's Minnesota history moments.

Culturology airs select Thursdays at 8:10 am, and is supported by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Please Join 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting

If you love 91.7 KAXE and Northern Community Radio, keep reading!

Public broadcasting is the subject of a critical debate in Washington. The question under consideration is whether to keep funding public television and radio to ensure quality news and cultural programming for our communities–or not! 170 Million Americans listen to public radio stations like KAXE, or watch public TV, or use other kinds of public media every month.  If you are reading this blog, you’re one of that 170 million, and we’re asking you to add your voice to this debate. To do that, go to 170MillionAmericans.org and sign up for the 170 Million Americans campaign. When you register you will receive email updates about the status of this situation, and an occasional request to take action.

• More than half of all Americans use some form of public media every month.
  170 million Americans connect through 368 public television stations, 934 public radio stations, hundreds of online services, and in-person events and activities.
• Public broadcasting is one of the most effective public/private partnerships in America.
  Annual federal funding amounts to only $1.35 per American and is leveraged by local stations to raise six times that amount from other sources.
• Public broadcasting supports lifelong learning for all Americans.
  Investments in children’s educational, cultural, public affairs and news programming, digital classroom resources, teacher training, and distance learning have made public broadcasting a leader in lifelong learning.
• Public broadcasting strengthens our democracy. The free flow of ideas and debate helps us participate in the political process as informed citizens.
  

KAXE is proud to participate in the 170 Million Americans campaign. It’s an unprecedented collaboration of public radio and television stations, public broadcasting organizations, and listeners and viewers throughout the country, all in favor of strong public media in the United States. KAXE receives more than 1/4 of its $700,000 total budget through the combined investment of many citizens at the federal and state levels. KAXE relies more on federal and state support than most public broadcasting organizations do because we are a rural station. For any one person, this investment is very small, but when it's all put together it does a lot. Taking the "public" out of public broadcasting is a serious issue with many potential consequences. To help ensure the continued health of small stations like KAXE, and of large news and cultural organizations like NPR and PBS, go to 170MillionAmericans.org now and join the campaign. Thank you very much!

Peruse Pictures from Northern MN

We've added another round of pictures to our Online Photo Album, including the KBXE Float in the Night We Light parade in Bemidji, musicians in-studio like Katie Corning from Bagley, and parties at the KAXE Studios in Grand Rapids.

Got pictures to share? Email them to photo@kaxe.org, please include your name and where the picture was taken.

Did You Miss It? Never Fear, Our Archive is Here!

Check out some of these recent highlights from Northern Community Radio, like Winona LaDuke talking about Natural Harvest and her work at White Earth, the rich and uplifting feature on Hand Bells by Jennifer Poenix, the intimate and burning music of Sela Oveson from Orr and Anton Treuer about the dynamic and controversial 19th century Ojibwe leade Hole in the Day. Click to listen on your computer, or "right click" and "save as" to download the files and then load them onto your mp3 player. Enjoy!

Will Weaver and "The Last Hunter"
"The Last Hunter - An American Family Album" by MN Author Will Weaver. Check out more author interviews on the RealGoodArchive.

 

 

 

 

Aaron Brown on Christmas Trees
Christmas reminds us that we've survived another year and still have some semblance of a family and a haphazard network of friends... we made it! To honor this melancholy truth we cut down trees and put them in our houses. Get more contributions and stories at the Between You and Me page.

Guido on Christmas Trees
You have to actually see this Christmas tree to fully appreciate it: it's black and upside down. Get more contributions and stories at the Between You and Me page.

 

Sela Oveson and "Rogue Lightning"
I am very excited to welcome Sela Oveson back to Centerstage MN to talk about her debut album "Rogue Lightning." It's powerful stuff. As a solo artist her music is already commanding, but she invited many of her favorite Iron Range musicians to join her on this CD. When a song starts with her delicate guitar and then a bass note slides in, a drum pounds and you hear the pull of a violin the music wraps around you, inviting your mind to sail through the great unknown. Sela has captured Rogue Lightning in a bottle. Read More...

Ring Them Bells: One Woman's Hand Bell Story
Jennifer Poenix has been around hand bells since she was a youngster. The bells even rang at her wedding ceremony. Now she's in the bell choir at Community Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids. She tells us about the history of the bells and what they mean to her. Read More...

"The Assassination of Hole In The Day:"

“The Assassination of Hole In The Day”: Author and Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State, Anton Treuer, talks about his new book about the dynamic and controversial 19th century Ojibwe leader, Bagone-ghiizhig (a.k.a. Hole In The Day the Younger.  Get more stories from Our History here.

Winona LaDuke
Winona LaDuke talked with us about Native Harvest, local food, reviving traditional strains of corn and other goals of the White Earth Land Recovery Project. Get more Local Food stories here.

Video: Frost on the Banks of the Mississippi

John Latimer, Phenologist for Northern Community Radio, takes us to the banks of the Mississippi River next to the KAXE Studios in downtown Grand Rapids, MN and talks about the different types of frost that can form on these cold mornings when you're near open water.

Check out more MN nature news, pix, and vids on the Phenology Page at http://www.kaxe.org

Jada the Pet of the Week

Hi! My name is Jada. I am a wonderful dog! I was left to fend for myself and could really use some good walks. I even get along well with other dogs. Could you be my new walking partner? My adoption fee includes my spaying, up to date vaccinations, bordetella and deworming. If you are interested in adopting me, please submit an application via e-mail from our website www.starnorth.org (under forms). If you would like to visit me at the shelter please e-mail adoptions@starnorth.org or call 218-245-3732 to make an appointment. Our adoption hours are Mon/Thur 5-7pm and Wed/Sat/Sun 12-3pm.