EarthBeat Radio

The Native American teacher, leader and activist -- Dennis Banks -- came to national attention almost 40 years ago when he took part in occupying Alcatraz Island in an attempt to claim the abandoned government prison as a center for Native American Studies. After 18 months, he and the other organizers were forcibly removed, an action that led to an event called The Trail of Broken Treaties or The Longest Walk in 1972.

Now, in the face of climate change dramatically affecting life on the reservations -- drying up marshes, wildfires and floods on the Indian nations -- The American Indian Movement and other supporters held a sequel, dubbed The Longest Walk 2.

This 8 thousand-mile trek came to its completion in July in Washington, DC. It began, like its predecessor, at Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay. This walk followed two routes -- a southern one through Texas, Tennessee and North Carolina -- and a northern one through Nevada, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Earthbeat host Daphne Wysham joined the founder of the American Indian Movement -- Dennis Banks -- the new leader of the group -- Tashina Banks Moore -- and two of the walkers themselves in one of the event's tipis that were erected in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol.

Modern scientists are now beginning to study the Earth as one system, as if it was one living organism with many, many parts. This idea is called "Gaia Theory" and while it's new to scientists -- native peoples have viewed the Earth as a living being for thousands of years. At an Gaia conference held in the DC area, Native American Lloyd Pinkham spoke about Native Science, a practice that covers social, economic, natural and wildlife resources.

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Our theme music is Baladi by Tony Anka, Bellydance Superstars vol. 2.