Archived Radio Show

November 25, 2024

Original Radio Show  ID:
WSA241125

Listen to the Show on the Mp3 Player below

Duration 57 minutes

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Featuring

Click the Name to access the Segment below

1. Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz,  Host of Women's Spaces 

2a. Guest MaDonna Feather Cruz,  Consultant, Advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigeneous Women (MMIW)

2b. Guest Reynalda "Reyna" Joy Cruz, Costume Designer at Cinnabar Theater, also as a Student at SRJC for theater productions.

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1. Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz:  After a four week absence, we are back with a live show. Ken and I had a tussle with the flu during this time, and thankfully the coughs have subsided.

Joining me in the studio today is MaDonna Feather Cruz who is a distinguished Native American woman living with disabilities proud advocate for Native wellness, raising awareness about the critical issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), and cultural preservation MaDonna is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes.
Also joining me in the studio is, Costume designer and winner of the, 2024 Diversity in Business Awards awarded by the Business Journal in Sonoma County, CA. Reyna Joy Cruz who is the daughter of Madonna. I am proud to have them both in the studio with me. We represent four generation of women.

This is the second time I have had Madonna on the show with me. November is Native American Heritage month and on November 25, the day after Thanksgiving is Native American Heritage Day and MaDonna Feather Cruz’s family shares some involvement in those events and invited her to give us some history them. She also has participated in the Alcatraz Occupation, in fact she has participated in several of these important rituals, not sure about this year yet and I am curious to know more about that. It’s going to be a good show.

2. Our Guests, MaDonna Feather Cruz and her daughter Reyna Joy Cruz shared the cultural competency, resilience, and activism, particularly in their Native American communities, and highlights individual and collective responses to systemic challenges. Reyna expresses her mission to promote cultural awareness in the arts through conversations and kindness, countering ignorance with understanding. This sentiment resonates with Elaine’s reflection on personal growth after being educated on cultural issues in college courses, emphasizing the value of continuous learning and addressing misinformation.

MaDonna Feather shares her experiences as a third-generation survivor of Indian boarding schools, cancer, and systemic challenges, embodying resilience and dedication to her grandmother's legacy of activism. This legacy includes participation in the International Indian Treaty Council and Alcatraz Sunrise Ceremonies, symbolizing Native resistance and cultural preservation. Reyna, the daughter of MaDonna, describes these ceremonies as immersive experiences connecting her to her heritage and underscoring the importance of community and tradition.

The conversation also touches on societal issues, such as the disappointment following the U.S. election and the broader struggles for gender equality and justice. MaDonna and Reyna highlight the emotional toll of systemic inequities, yet advocate for proactive engagement, whether through art, education, or community activism.

Thanksgiving is reframed as a time for reflection on Native history and resilience. MaDonna and Reyna encourage listeners to engage with cultural ceremonies, such as the Alcatraz Sunrise Ceremony or local events, and to educate ourselves on the true history behind the holiday, fostering greater awareness and respect for Indigenous perspectives. The discussion concludes with an emphasis on gratitude, resilience, and the importance of passing on these values to future generations.

Alcatraz Indigenous Peoples Sunrise Gathering_ from IITC site

About our Guest:  MaDonna Feather Cruz is a distinguished Native American woman living with disabilities, whose unwavering commitment to making a difference in her community and beyond has earned her widespread recognition. As a proud advocate for Native wellness, raising awareness about the critical issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), and cultural preservation, she has dedicated her life to championing causes close to her heart.
In addition to her advocacy work, MaDonna was an influential cultural ambassador, bridging the gap between traditional practices and the modern world. Her eloquence and insightful presentations have garnered acclaim.

Guest Link:

https://www.madonnafeather.com/

Guest Event:

Thursday, November 28,, 2024, 4:15 to 8:45 AM, Alcatraz Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering Thanksgiving 2024, For more information see the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) website at https://www.iitc.org/2024-indigenous-peoples-day-alcatraz-sunrise-gathering/

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About our Guest: Reynalda Joy Cruz is a costume designer for Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma, and a costume designer as a student at Santa Rosa Junior College for the student theater productions. Reynalda is the recent winner of the 2024 Diversity in Business Awards, awarded by the Business Journal in Sonoma County, CA.

Guest Link:  

Cinnabar Theater website:  https://cinnabartheater.org/

Theater Arts Productions, SRJC, website:  https://theatrearts.santarosa.edu/

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Our History Is Our Strength

Check out important dates to remember in Herstory at the National Women's History Alliance, where the date descriptions were sourced unless otherwise indicated.

Special thank you to the National Women’s History Alliance for making women’s history alive. Shout out to Co-Founder and Retiring Executive Director, Molly McGregor who will be on the show when we celebrate Women’s History Month in March for making the fabulous list of Women in History where I get most of the info I present in this Herstory segment.

Herstory Birthdays:

November 14, 1946 Sacheen Littlefeather (Maria Louise Cruz), American-born actress and activist for Native American civil rights. She represented Marlon Brando at the 45th Academy Awards (the Oscars) where she on Brando's behalf declined the Best Actor award for his performance in The Godfather, to draw attention to the Standoff at Wounded Knee and in protest against Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans. (thanks to Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacheen_Littlefeather )

November 17, 1923 (1988) – Ruth Bleier, trained in neuroanatomy in 1961, worked with Maryland Committee for Peace, lost hospital privileges when she refused to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, studied differences in brain structure between males and females at University of Wisconsin, involved with Women’s Studies from 1975.

November 18, 1945 (2010) – Wilma Mankiller, first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation, 1985-95 .

November 20, 1910 (1985) – Pauli Murray, civil rights lawyer, Episcopal priest, first black person to earn a doctorate at Yale Law School, 1965 http://paulimurrayproject.org

November 24, 1910(1982) – Lucy Covington, with her heritage of many chiefs, was tribal leader who saved the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State and made the federal government fulfill its treaty responsibilities to Indians, supported higher education and training for tribal members.

November 25, 1900 (1980) – Helen Gahagen Douglas, actress and politician, starred in H. Rider Haggard’s “She,” served as California Congressional representative 1944-50, when she ran for the Senate her opponent Richard Nixon claimed she was “pink down to her underwear,” which was later termed the worst “red-smear” campaign in American politics.

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Announcements 

Thursday, November 28,, 2024, 4:15 to 8:45 AM, Alcatraz Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering Thanksgiving 2024, For more information see the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) website at https://www.iitc.org/2024-indigenous-peoples-day-alcatraz-sunrise-gathering/

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Monday, December 2, 2024 11 AM PT # repeats 11 PM PT, the show will feature to be announced  Radio KBBF 89.1 FM, North SF Bay or live streaming at https://kbbf.org/live

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Wednesday, December 4, 2024 Peace and Justice Center issues new weekly list of events and links to community non-profit organizations. It includes ongoing peace protests: PJC website www.pjcsoco.org

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Wednesday, December 4 , 2024, 10 AM PT (new time), the show will feature to be announced .  Radio KPCA 103.3 FM, Petaluma, CA. https://petalumacommunityaccess.org/kpca    Women's Spaces will be broadcast over Radio KPCA on the same day as before but at a new time on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM.

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Music Selections

The Opening and Closing Theme song The Woman in Your Life is You is done with permission of the Composer and Singer Alix Dobkin ((August 16, 1940 – May 19, 2021) Alix Dobkin death was just announced - Thank you for all you did for Lesbians to be recognized and Women to be honored. May you rest in peace. See our Interview with Alix Dobkin on 12/1/2014 and our Memorial to Alix Dobkin on 5/24/2021

The Woman in Your Life is You by Alix Dobkin from the album Living with Lavender Jane (2010 Women's Wax Works) - www.alixdobkin.com