White supremacy is a force that has fostered tensions not only with white people but also within other marginalized peoples. Regardless of preferences, we need to check ourselves.  There is no place for racism, bigotry and bias among and between other minority groups.

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#520 - The Line Between Racial Bias and Racism

In this episode we introduce a new format for the show and take a look at the Oka Crisis. After a year-long dispute over the expansion of a golf course between the city of Oka and the Mohawk community of Kanesatake, the Quebec provincial police stormed a barricade erected by the Mohawks to stop the expansion. What began as riot police tossing tear gas canisters at a small group of Mohawks spiraled into a 20 minute long shootout which resulted in the death of one SWAT team member. What followed was a 78 day siege that ended after the Canadian military surrounded the small Mohawk community and pushed their way past the barricades. Kahentinetha Horn and Loran Thompson join John to talk about what happened after the police officer was killed and how they managed to survive the military invasion of Kanesatake.

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#541 - 78 Days In The Pines (feat. Kahentinetha Horn and Loran Thompson)

In this episode John is joined by Ed Schindler and Paul Winnie to discuss the differences between "environmentalists" and "land defenders" and how it all ties back to the concept of Seven Generations. Join John, Ed and Paul in a discussion on how the Native view of land and our responsibility to it is fundamentally at odds with how European settlers and their descendants view the land.

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#542 - Land Defenders (feat. Paul Winnie and Ed Schindler)

The recent discovery of 215 bodies at the Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia, Canada surprised everyone except Native people. For several decades survivors of these genocidal institutions have told stories of the abuse, neglect and violence that they experienced at these schools but the general public largely ignored them. In this episode, we take another look at the genocidal residential school system implemented by the Canadians and the Americans. Author and historian Keith Burich joins John to discuss the history and long-term impacts of the residential school system.


Closing song is "War Club" by DJ Shub feat. Snotty Nose Rez Kids.


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#544 - The Legacy of Residential Schools (feat. Keith Burich)

Dr. Stephanie Fryberg joins John to discuss her work in researching the psychological harm caused by native mascots and the impact they have on children and teens. Dr. Fryberg is a Tulalip psychologist who received her Master's and Doctorate degrees from Stanford University and has spent most of her career researching and collecting data on how Native people feel about Native mascots and their overall representation in media. During her time spent researching this subject, she has been able document significant data that shows race-based mascots do in fact cause psychological harm and they are especially harmful to young children and teens.

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#551 - The Harm That Mascots Cause (Feat. Dr. Stephanie Fryberg)

Paul Delaronde stops by the LTN studio for a conversation.

LTN#573 4/12/23; Tekarontake joins LTN to discuss leadership and service to others.

So the US Interior Secretary Deb Haaland made a quiet visit to Hawaii and was hosted for an event at the Hawaiian Kingdom's Iolani Palace. She talked about restoring the building but not restoring the Palace to its rightful owners. 
My long time friend Kaiulani Mahuka joins me for trip to the past and an update to where we are now.

LTN#574 7/4/23 Let's Talk Native Hawaiian! Kaiulani Mahuka is my Special Guest.

Between the attacks on education coming from the right and higher ed themselves marketing college only as a path to financial enrichment, universities and colleges are losing a battle for survival. enrollment is down as the costs continue to rise. But have we lost the true value in pursuing education? It's about enlightenment and fulfillment not just making more money.

Let's Talk Native #578 11/15/23; Culture wars are destroying education! And they are getting help.

Much of what is deemed "law" in the US is not an actual product of the legislative system. The creation of "legal doctrine" requires no actual law. Courts, the Supreme Court in particular has somehow become vested with a power to legislate from the bench and allow their written opinions to gain the force of law.
This program challenges three legal doctrines that have no basis in either rule of law or the US Constitution. They represent pure authoritarian rule.

LTN #579 2/28/24; Challenging Authoritarian Rule

Noel Bass joins me again three years after producing a short film on the incredible people tackling the suicide epidemic on the Pine Ridge Reservation with a full length documentary covering the issue.

Noel Bass Filmmaker of The Bears on Pine Ridge is my guest!

Tekarontake joins me for a broadcast from Akwesasne to discuss a land claims settlement proposed by frauds.

LTN #581 4/27/24; LIVE From Akwesasne! Exposing A Proposed Land Claim Settlement.

These are my words on the subject, the day and what we should be demanding.

LTN#585 9/30/24; It's Orange Shirt Day!

I didn't produce an LTN podcast this week but I did a special two hour broadcast in Washington DC on WPFW for Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday.

My Two-Hour Special for Indigenous Peoples Day

LTN #587 10/29/24; Joe Biden's Apology

Lots of bad history with December and a year that ends with Trump returning to the White House. How fitting!

LTN #588 12/3/24; 2024 is almost in the book. Let's close it out with the tough talk you expect.

Yesterday a group calling themselves a tri-council signed a land claim settlement in direct violation of their own authority and will of the people.

LTN #589 12/10/24; Akwesasne Land SELLOUT! What do we do to and about those who signed?

It cannot possibly be a coincidence that this level of abuse could occur at EVERY Indian Boarding School. "Kill the Indian - Save the Man" was not just a metaphor. Metaphors do not require graves!

LTN #590 12-17-24; I watched Sugarcane, the film. Now let's talk residential schools!

LTN #591 12_31_24; A look back on 2024 and a look forward to 2025!

This time I'm the guest as I join Ahmed Ali on WUSB Stony Brook

Cafe Ali on WUSB_4_8_25; John Kane goes on air at Stony Brook to promote Sugarcane.

I join Ahmed Ali for a second day in the run up to our screening of the Oscar nominated film Sugarcane at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington NY. Hoping to fill the house and looking forward to the conversation after the film.

Cafe Ali on WUSB_4_9_25; A return visit! still promoting the screening of Sugarcane at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington but a new conversation.

John Kane on The Brian Lehrer Show

This is the first of the racist, slave era "legal" doctrines that still drive US law and policy regarding Native peoples. 

Let's Talk Native... with JohnKane 5/24/25; The Doctrine of Christian Disdcovery

A quick digestible explanation of this "legal" doctrine and why it isn't legal.

Let's Talk Native...with John Kane 6/4/25; The Trust Doctrine in Under Ten Minutes!

Racism demonstrated by individuals is easy to react to but that's not creates white privilege; systemic racism does. We'll talk about both. We see it in privilege of the wealthy, elite of the Hamptons in their sense of power to dictate to the Shinnecock, but we see it even more in the power they wield in the political and governing systems. We see condescending dismissive attitudes in courts, legislatures and even with our own paid lawyers. This is systemic racism and it's much more difficult to confront but still needs to be!

#333 - Systemic Racism

I was told our people are too dependent on government programs to talk about "Decolonization." Well? You are talking about it wrong then. We need to decolonize our minds first and remember that we have solutions to problems.

#338 - Decolonization! Scared?

Racism doesn't just come in white hoods and carrying Nazi flags. Nope! It is built into every institution in the US. Even the do-gooder white allies harbor their own sense of entitlement and privilege as the "help" us. Oh! And the same goes for all those white professional we hire to help us navigate their systems.

#379 - The subtle side of racism.

Between Hollywood, TV, history books, church and government we have struggled to cast off the identity that was imposed upon us and reclaim our own. The 70's saw the growth of the sovereignty movement with AIM and warrior societies. By the 90's, Native people were being defined by resistance. All this was about reclaiming our identity.

Check out our latest video "THIS IS CANADA" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILsTDJJ6s2k

Check out our website - https://www.letstalknative.com/

Follow John on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/letstalknative

#425 - Reclaiming Our Identity

Ready or not, it's time to open the economy. Euphemisms abound as they "balance" economic impact against health and safety. Plus my thoughts on Ahmaud Arbery and why Kap took a knee.

Check out our latest video "THIS IS CANADA" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILsTDJJ6s2k

Check out our website - https://www.letstalknative.com/

Follow John on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/letstalknative

#426 - Ready To Open?

Show dedicated in memory of Chaz Wheelock. What will be our legacy? Identity? Survival? Sustainability? Environment? We all leave something or someone behind. Some will follow a path we helped make and will take it further than we could.

Check out our latest video "THIS IS CANADA" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILsTDJJ6s2k

Check out our website - https://www.letstalknative.com/

Follow John on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/letstalknative

#430 - Our Legacy

Riots across America! Even in Buffalo! Peaceful protests haven't worked so the unheard are demanding to be heard! George Floyd's death has broken the restraints.

Check out our latest video "THIS IS CANADA" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILsTDJJ6s2k

Check out our website - https://www.letstalknative.com/

Follow John on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/letstalknative

#431 - I Can't Breathe!

Police departments all over the U.S. prove abuse of force is systemic with their attacks on protesters.

Check out our latest video "THIS IS CANADA" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILsTDJJ6s2k

Check out our website - https://www.letstalknative.com/

Follow John on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/letstalknative

#432 - A.C.A.B.

John supports the celebration of Juneteenth but he rejects the heroizing of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's execution order for 38 Dakota occurred one week before his Emancipation Proclamation.

#437 - Juneteenth!

We cannot learn FROM history if we don't ACTUALLY learn history! We cannot teach our children to one day serve our people if we don't teach them OUR history!

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#451 - "Stupid History!"

This show has one function and that is to provide a forum for Native issues. New episodes are uploaded every week. Like what you hear? Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/letstalknative

Popular tracks by Let's Talk Native with John Kane