Urban Indigenous LA: COVID-19’s Impact, New Diabetes Project, & A Native Veteran Perspective on War

American Indian Airwaves

Part 1 Native Americans of all ages continue experiencing some of the highest SARS-CoV-19 rates compared to non-Indigenous peoples. In Los Angeles County, California Indigenous peoples are spread out, decentralized, and find it difficult to maintain community and cultural connections. Consequentially, after just over two years, the urban Indigenous Los Angeles communities are still recovering. Moreover, compounded with contracting COVID-19 or suffering other diseases, Native Americans continue to experience disproportionately high diabetes rates that result from various forms of settler colonial violence. Our guests for the first segment provide us an update on how the COVID-19 pandemic/endemic continues impacting the urban Indigenous Los Angeles County communities along with some of the frustrations and successes as well as provides important information for Indigenous Los Angeles peoples on how to participate in the Native American Diabetes Project, the first project ever to focus on diabetes for all Indigenous peoples living in Los Angeles County, California. For more information about the Native American Diabetes Project, email: [e-mail] or call: 213-764-4550. Guests: Dr. Andrea Garcia, M.D. (Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara Nations) is an appointed commissioner with the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission, works with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health/American Indian Counseling Center, and is a board member for the United American Indian Involvement, Inc. (UAII). Runningbear Ramirez (Yuhaaviatam nation) works with Indian Health Services, is a well-respected activist, philanthropist, and creative consultant for luxury fashion brands. Fueled by his humanitarian passion, Runningbear divides his days between his philanthropic work and other business endeavors, joining the Project Angel Food Board of Directors in 2018. Part 2: Native Americans have been and are veterans of settle colonialism for more than five hundred years. In addition, over the generations Native Americans have served in the various military branches of the United States. Our guest for today is a long-time urban Indigenous Los Angeles community member, a veteran of U.S. (Vietnam) wars, and provides listeners a critique of what it means to serve in settler-colonial wars, draws parallels to what is happening in Ukraine presently, and offers a message of peace, plus more. Part 1 of a two-part interview. Guest: Jose Jesus “Joe” Anzaldua (Yaqui Nation), member of the Native American Veterans Association. Click here for archived American Indian Airwaves programs on the KPFK website within the past 60-days only or click on (below) after 8pm for today’s scheduled program. Soundcloud Apple Podcast Google Podcast iHeartRadio Pocket Casts Spotify Podcast Stitcher Podcast Tunein Podcast