- Details
- By Rich Tupica
With live entertainment on hold, there are new, alternate ways to interact with Native artists from home, including two newly launched podcasts devoted to chatting with Indigenous talent. First up, the National Native American Music Association (NAMA) has launched its new NAMA Podcast, which is hosted by Ed Koban (EdKo), a recording artist, multi-instrumentalist and NAMA's house band director. You can tune into the show here. The monthly, 90-minute podcast features live and in-depth interviews with new and established NAMA award winners. Along with that, it will be an outlet for the latest NAMA news, including upcoming NAMA submission dates, updates on the awards show and breaking news from Native artists. The debut episode features interviews with NAMA founder Ellen Bello and multi-award winner Gabriel Ayala.
The other new program worth checking into is INDIGEFI’s Native Artist Podcast, a weekly radio-hour featuring modern Indigenous music and culture. The new program is hosted and produced by Alexis Sallee, a Iñupiaq and Mexican who grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. “For years we’ve been highlighting artists who are shaping the future of Native music with our weekly radio show,” Sallee said in a statement. “I’m excited to bring the focus to a new group of Native artists whose media include painting, carving, film and even a denim fashion line. I want to expand what people think of when they hear the words ‘Native art.’” The upcoming roster for INDIGEFI’s Native Artist Podcast spans a wide range of talent, from Native directors and writers to carvers and fashion designers. Here’s the list, so far:
Tomas Karmelo Amaya (Yoeme/A:shiwi/Raramuri), director/writer/photographer
Tristan Morgan (Iñupiaq), painter
Drew Michael (Iñupiaq/Yup'ik), carver
Erik and Amanda of Ginew (Oneida/Stockbridge-Munsee/Ojibwe), denim fashion line
Laura Ortman (White Mt. Apache), composer/musician/installation artist
Kiliii Yuyan (Nanai), photographer
Christopher Auchter (Haida), director/screenwriter/animator INDIGEFI is distributed by Native Voice One and can be heard on radio stations across the country. It’s also streamed here. The program is produced by Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, a nonprofit, Alaska Native governed and operated media center in Anchorage. The podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and on nativeartistpodcast.com.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (December 14, 2025): D.C. Briefs
Wounded Knee Massacre Site Protection Bill Passes Congress
Two Murdered on Colville Indian Reservation
Help us defend tribal sovereignty.
At Native News Online, our mission is rooted in telling the stories that strengthen sovereignty and uplift Indigenous voices — not just at year’s end, but every single day.
Because of your generosity last year, we were able to keep our reporters on the ground in tribal communities, at national gatherings and in the halls of Congress — covering the issues that matter most to Indian Country: sovereignty, culture, education, health and economic opportunity.
That support sustained us through a tough year in 2025. Now, as we look to the year ahead, we need your help right now to ensure warrior journalism remains strong — reporting that defends tribal sovereignty, amplifies Native truth, and holds power accountable.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Your support keeps Native voices heard, Native stories told and Native sovereignty defended.
Stand with Warrior Journalism today.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher