PROGRAM ONE

Historical Introduction:
 Program Host Arlie Neskahi provides context for the journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as they prepared to travel through the country of the Shawnee, Otoe and Omaha tribes.

Elder Wisdom: 
Lewis and Clark may have started their voyage from St. Louis, Missouri, but their interactions with Native people began in the woodlands of Missouri and Illinois with the Shawnee. Brian Bull honors the life and culture of Shawnee elder, Dark Rain Thom.

 Sacred Landscape:
Judy Bluehorse Skelton explores native perspectives on the land and water, plants and animals that Lewis and Clark encountered along their journey.

Tribal Rhythms:  
Nico Wind takes us to the land of the Omaha in an interview with traditional Omaha singer, Valentine Parker, who explores the roots of the powwow.  The feature includes excerpts from the historical collection of 90 wax cylinders recorded by Alice Fletcher and Ponca man, Frances La Flesche.

Contemporary Rhythms:
Milt Lee features Omaha powwow singer, Tim Grant, and his drum group, the White Tail Singers from Macy, Nebraska, who shares about Omaha music and his life of travel on the powwow trail.

Turtle Island Storytellers: 
Shawnee Robert Miller, shares his knowledge about one of the most valuable members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Shawnee and French hunter, scout and Indian sign language interpreter, George Drouillard

PROGRAM TWO:

Historical Introduction: 
Arlie Neskahi shares background on the expedition's encounter with the Yankton Sioux. He shares how they were honored with special ceremony and relates an account of Lewis blessing a newborn Yankton baby who became Strikes the Ree.

Elder Wisdom: 
Brian Bull features Yankton elder, Clarence Rockboy who shares background on the relationship of the Dakotah with the Lakota, and his peoples' guardianship over the Pipestone Quarries, the growth of their buffalo herd, and the longstanding tradition of respect for women.

Sacred Landscape 
Judy Bluehorse Skelton discusses sacred places, and the significance of Spirit Mound, "The Mountain of Little People," which was recorded by Lewis and Clark in their journals.

Tribal Rhythms: 
In an interview with Native American Church singer, Gerald Primo, whose father was a roadman and carrier of the sacred pipe of the Yankton Sioux, Nico Wind shares the origins and music at the heart of the Native American Church.

Contemporary Rhythms:
 Milt Lee visits with Dakota musical artist, Jackie Bird, and shares her award-winning bluesy rock sound which is spiced with traditional Dakotah melodies.

Turtle Island Storytellers: 
Dakotah elder and storyteller, Mary Louise Defender Wilson shares the traditional story of the first flute used for courting.

PROGRAM THREE:

Historical Introduction:
Program Host Arlie Neskahi discusses the Expedition's encounter with the Teton Sioux and the conflict and communications breakdowns that ensues.

Elder Wisdom: 
Brian Bull relates the life and vision of the late Lakota medicine man and spiritual leader, Martin High Bear, who was also Founder of Wisdom of the Elders.

Sacred Landscape: 
Judy Bluehorse Skelton speaks about traditional herbal knowledge in a visit with Teton Sioux herbalists, Marie Randall and her granddaughter, Annie White Hat.

Tribal Rhythms: 
Nico Wind features Lakota singer, composer and teacher of Sioux music, Earl Bullhead who became a maker of songs for his people after discovering archival music from Frances Densmore's Sioux collection which was recorded nearly a century ago.

Contemporary Rhythms:
 Milt Lee and William Ward travel to Wakpala, South Dakota to visit with Lakota and Anishinabe fluter player and hoop dancer, Kevin Locke to discuss his newest CD, Midnight Strong Heart.

Turtle Island Storytellers:
Lakota elder and storyteller, Zona Loans Arrow shares the story of her grandfather, Joseph No Two Horns, who was injured and received a gift from the Buffalo Nation on one of the last traditional buffalo hunt of his people.

PROGRAM FOUR:

Historical Introduction:
Program Host Arlie Neskahi discusses the Expedition's 1804 encounter with the Arikara, or Sahnish people, who were regarded as important Missouri River traders and agriculturists.

Elder Wisdom:
Brian Bull introduces us to Arikara elders, Virgil Chase and Rodney Howling Wolf who grew up together, learning oral history, attending ceremonies of their people and watching their home town swallowed up as a result of Missouri River dam construction.

Sacred Landscape
Judy Bluehorse Skelton offers insights into Corn Mother, the significance of this sacred plant, and its cultivation by native peoples along the Missouri riverbanks.

Tribal Rhythms
Nico Wind takes us to meet the Arikara elder, Yvonne Fox, who tells of Mother Corn at the center of Arikara traditional life, and the late Terry Howling Wolf who represented one of the oldest drum groups of the Arikara, the Dead Grass Society.

Contemporary Rhythms
Milt Lee interviews Arikara musician, Leo Lockwood, who picked up his first set of drum sticks at Flandreau Indian Boarding School and tells how the influence of music changed his life.

Turtle Island Storytellers
Journalist Dorreen Yellow Bird tells the story of Corn Maiden and how she is still honored in Sahnish households to this day.

PROGRAM SIX:

Historical Introduction:
Program Host Arlie Neskahi travels with the Lewis and Clark Expedition along the Missouri River past Crow and Cheyenne country on their westward journey to the Pacific Ocean without seeing a single Indian.

Elder Wisdom:
Brian Bull introduces us to Crow elder, Joseph Medicine Crow, who tells how young warriors used to earn the role of chief among the Crow nation.

Sacred Landscape
Judy Bluehorse Skelton acknowledges the Northern Cheyenne for their refusal to exploit their natural resources, such as coal and natural gas.

Tribal Rhythms
Nico Wind treats us to the music of the Crow Fair which is widely attended every summer at Crow Agency, Montana.

Contemporary Rhythms
Milt Lee explores the history and evolution of Christian music on the Crow Reservation, featuring Dave Graber, Roy Stewart and John William Latin, Jr.

Turtle Island Storytellers
Southern Cheyenne Peace Chief Lawrence Hart tells a story about the history of the continuing plight of his people following the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864.

PROGRAM EIGHT:

Historical Introduction: 
Arlie Neskahi narrates the 2006 encounter with the Blackfeet nation and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which resulted in the only native fatality in the expedition.

Elder Wisdom: 
Brian Bull presents the wisdom of Blackfeet elder and historian, Cynthia Kipp who relates her childhood and her reverence for Blackfeet spirituality.

Sacred Landscape 
Judy Bluehorse Skelton discusses the prevalence of diabetes among native people and the use of traditional foods to build physical, mental and spiritual health.

Tribal Rhythms 
Nico Wind takes us on the hand game trail, for a listen to the music of the stick game, featuring interviews with Kenneth Old Person, Celestus Arrowtop and Sylvia Gayton.

Contemporary Rhythms: 
Milt Lee talks with Kenny Scabby Robe of the Black Lodge Singers, who discusses introduction of women singers, replacing vocables with English words in powwow music, and their groundbreaking Kids Powwow Songs.

Turtle Island Storytellers: 
Blackfeet storyteller Curly Bear Wagner shares the traditional Blackfeet story of how the bear stole the chinook winds.