Independent news from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance

Tribal Scene Radio: KBGA annual fundraiser ends Friday, Feb. 18

JT Shining Oneside shared stories about her Ojibwe and Anishinaabe inheritance during the Native American Heritage Month Celebration on Nov. 15. She spoke about the coming-of-age and traditional birth ceremonies. (Photo credit/ Adrianna Adame)
Call 406-243-5242 in support of KBGA pledge drive

Do you like spontaneity, something unique, something funny, and sometimes serious?

If so, I have your ticket to scores of shows and myriad DJ talents aired on KBGA College Radio at the University of Montana. Really, there is something for everyone. Check out the list of shows on the KBGA program schedule for any day of the week. Let’s take the Friday lineup for example: The station starts the day of with Tribal Scene Radio” – my show – followed by “Swimming with the Mermaid,” followed by Amy Goodwin’s “Democracy Now”. The afternoon shows include eclectic programs the likes of “I Do What I Want,” “Women of Action,” and “Hi-Tone Presents: Psychedelic Kurt’s Psychedelic Pentathalon.”

Great programming doesn’t come free, which is why I’m online today. I’m here to ask our KBGA listeners to contribute to Radiothon, the station’s annual pledge drive. The managers have set a goal of $14,000 for the week. Call 406-243-KBGA to donate. That’s not a whole lot of money considering the big picture. First, the station offers diverse programming. Second, it’s an all-volunteer DJ operation with a small number of paid staff members. Third, all programming is free of corporate influence, meaning the station offers a wonderful mix of introspective ideas , commercial-free shows and an eclectic playlist of music, ranging from jazz and hip hop to traditional American Indian drumming .

Tribal Scene Radio joined the KBGA program lineup last March, nearly one year ago. As the host, I’ve interviewed dozens of newsmakers from across the country, including Dr. Arne Vainio, Nike’s Sam McCracken, entertainer Arigon Starr, the Indian Land Tenure Foundation’s Terry Janis. These are just a few of Tribal Scenes guests. Most of the shows are archived or are in the process.

Keep programing like Tribal Scene Radio on the air. For more details of all the KBGA shows, go to the KBGA website. You can make a donation there, too. Or, if you are in Missoula, stop by the station at the University Center on campus.
The KBGA Radiothon ends Friday, Feb. 18. Call in and make a pledge during the Tribal Scene Radio program. We’re on from 8 to 9 a.m. this Friday, the final day for fundraising. We still haven’t reached the $14,000 mark, but we’re close. One more thing, people who call in between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and make a $10 pledge receive a $25 premium package. It’s a great deal.

Thank you for your support.

Jodi Rave

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear is the founder and director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization with offices in Bismarck, N.D. and the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jodi spent 15 years reporting for the mainstream press. She's been awarded prestigious Nieman and John S. Knight journalism fellowships at Harvard and Stanford, respectively. She also an MIT Knight Science Journalism Project fellow. Her writing is featured in "The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity," published by Columbia University Press. Jodi currently serves as a Society of Professional Journalists at-large board member, an SPJ Foundation board member, and she chairs the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee. Jodi has won top journalism awards from mainstream and Native press organizations. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.