Native America Calling: Protecting the night sky

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Friday, April 5, 2024

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Protecting the night sky

Most tribes have important traditional connections to the stars and other celestial bodies in the night sky.

But increasing encroachment from artificial lights is diminishing those connections. A handful of tribes are supporting a dark skies initiative to preserve what night sky visibility is left and promoting methods to limit light pollution.

In the process, tribal nations raising awareness of their own night sky traditions.

Autumn Gillard delivers a talk about the Southern Paiute perspective of the night sky at the Pipe Spring National Monument in Arizona. Photo: Grand Canyon National Park

Guests on Native America Calling

S.D. Nelson (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe), author and illustrator of children’s books

Travis Novitsky (Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), nature photographer

Daniel Bulletts, cultural resource director for the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians and director of the Southern Paiute Consortium