Native America Calling, one of the most widely-heard Native radio programs, is entering a new chapter in its storied history.

Longtime host Tara Gatewood is departing the show at the end of this week. She has worked at Native America Calling for 16 years, starting off as an associate producer back in 2005. The program is owned by Koahnic Broadcast Corp., an Alaska Native nonprofit.

“Koahnic is deeply grateful for Tara’s years of work at Native America Calling,” Koahnic CEO Jaclyn Sallee said in a news release on Monday. “Her talent and expertise has been invaluable in creating this unique and meaningful program, and our nation is a better place because of the issues raised and discussed by Tara.”

Gatewood is hosting her final show on Friday. The farewell episode is described as a “big Thank You” from the award-winning Native journalist, who hails from the Pueblo of Isleta as well as the Navajo Nation.

“For nearly 16 years she has worked diligently with a full heart to help uplift the voices of our Native nations through our Indigenous airwaves,” the show description reads. “Her work has helped open up more understanding of who we are as Native people and the strong foundations that we come from and the issues we face.”

Gatewood’s departure means Koahnic Broadcast Corp., the owner of Native America Calling, will be launching a search for a new host. In the meantime, National Native News anchor and producer Antonia Gonzales and KNBA radio news director Tripp Crouse are set to fill in, the Alaska Native firm said in its news release. Guest hosts are also in the works, Koahnic said.

As for Gatewood, she is headed to the International Women’s Media Foundation, where she has served as a fellow. She will be leading up a new project that is focused on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, whose stories often go unheard and misreported in the mainstream media.

“It’s a joy for us to welcome one of our own fellows to lead this groundbreaking position at our organization,” IWMF Executive Director Elisa Lees Muñoz said in an announcement on Tuesday. “Tara’s experience crafting nuanced storytelling, combined with her work in news media, will bring a unique strength and sensibility to our offerings and growing work in the United States.”

Gatewood, who has worked in print, radio and online media, is the recipient of numerous awards, including those from the Native American Journalists Association, the National Center for American Enterprise Development and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. In November, she will receive the prestigious International Matrix Award from the Association of Women in Communications.

“We wish her the best in her next endeavor,” Sallee of Koahnic said, “and we know this opening is an incredible opportunity for a new host.”

Native America Calling airs live every weekday at 1pm Eastern on nearly 70 public, community and tribal radio stations in the United States and in Canada. Past episodes can be found on SoundCloud.

The show has been produced out of “Studio 49” in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior hosts include Harlan McKosato, who passed away in 2020, and Patty Talahongva.

The following is the text of a July 26, 2021, news release from Koahnic Broadcast Corp.

Koahnic Broadcast Corp., an Alaska Native governed and owned media company, announced today a search for a new host of its nationally syndicated program Native America Calling.

Longtime host Tara Gatewood (Isleta Pueblo/Diné) will be moving on to join the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF). Gatewood will take the role of director, heading up a new initiative to draw attention to violence against Native American women across the country. While Gatewood will be stepping back as a regular host, she will continue to host select shows on Native America Calling.

“Koahnic is deeply grateful for Tara’s years of work at Native America Calling,” said Jaclyn Sallee, CEO of Koahnic Broadcast Corp. “Her talent and expertise has been invaluable in creating this unique and meaningful program, and our nation is a better place because of the issues raised and discussed by Tara. We wish her the best in her next endeavor, and we know this opening is an incredible opportunity for a new host.”

In the interim, our existing staff, including National Native News Anchor/Producer Antonia Gonzales and KNBA News Director Tripp Crouse, will help fill in. In addition, the show intends to bring in guest hosts until a permanent replacement is hired.

Additional changes at Koahnic Broadcast Corp. bring the departure of Native America Calling Senior Producer Monica Braine (Assiniboine/Hunkpapa Lakota), who recently took a new position working with Native-owned AMERIND. Braine is an employee with many talents who proved a critical voice both in front of and behind the microphone.

Native America Calling is a live call-in program linking public radio stations, the internet and listeners together in a thought-provoking national conversation about issues specific to Native communities. Each program engages noted guests and experts with callers throughout the United States and is designed to improve the quality of life for Native Americans. Native America Calling is heard on nearly 70 public, community and tribal radio stations in the United States and in Canada. NAC is a production of Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, a Native-operated media center in Anchorage, Alaska.