No more bitchin’ we can’t get our fix of Native music, news, or talk shows on the radio. If you have access to a computer (which means us, bubba, since we’re reading this) then you can hear programming streamed live whether you reside in Ann Arbor or Alamosa, Flagstaff, Fargo, or Philly.  

Ain’t life grand? 

For this you can thank the smart folks who put their grit and mojo into establishing Native Voice One, the all-Native all-the-time radio distributor. With funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NV1 launched this past July and began offering internet streaming on October 1^st.   

With the addition of the website, NV1 provides an outlet for Indians living in urban centers feeling disconnected, or to a diverse audience interested in listening to Indigenous music, public service programs, and cultural programming. Not only that, says Network Manager Burt Poley, this greater communication goes a long way in changing prevailing misconceptions.  

“We’re hoping to bring more understanding to Natives and non-Natives about the culture, music, stories we have. We are not all the same—though people have the idea that all Natives are alike. We have different traditions, different languages and this is one way to express that.” 

NV1 currently is distributing 11 programs including Native America Calling,  the flagship call-in show hosted by Patty Talahongva, the popular contemporary music program, Earthsongs, Alternative Voices and National Native News, among others.  With 27 full station affiliates—mostly public radio outlets—the network is formalizing an “a la carte menu” for those stations who may want to pick and choose particular programs. Similarly, they are negotiating a contract with XM Satellite Radio as well, expanding the universe of potential listeners even further. 

Poley says that NV1 is actively seeking additional programs to distribute throughout the U.S. and Canada and is creating a more user-friendly website that will offer on-demand services. A major goal, he notes, is to develop independently produced programs to enhance the choices listeners have, such as the newest show on the NV1 roster, Rezervations  hosted by Dawn Karima. 

“I’d love to see a gospel show, cooking show; or a call-in Native celebrity news program,” he says. “Because our audience is mixed—we have Natives from the reservations to urban Natives, and a lot of people who are non-Native—our network opens the potential to reach an audience not possible in the past.” 

People like you and me. Sitting at home in front of our computers listening to a Nez Perce elder recount fighting hand-to-hand combat during World War II or a hearing a traditional song by the NightHawk Singers. Helping Indians stay connected and opening the world to those on the outside. 

You want culture, it’s there. You want news from the Native perspective, it’s there. Contemporary music and conversation and traditions and talk fests, it’s there—thanks to NV1, with more and bigger things to come. 

We got nothin’ to bitch about anymore. 

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Native Voice One programming is distributed to stations throughout the United States and Canada. To see whether a station in your community is affiliated or to listen to programs streamed live online, please visit their website: www.NV1.org