Be a Better Relative

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1. Panga Canyon, just off the 101 freeway in the shaBe of the California live oaks.
2. Explore anB picnic in the garBens before the show.
3. Further information available at www.seatricum.com anB at kpfk.org.
4. Hello, welcome back relatives. It is TuesBay evening. You are turneB into 90.7 KPFK.
5. The Eagle anB ConBor, be a better relative. My name is Sunrose Ironshell anB I am joineB with
6. my co-host, LyBia Ponce. How you Boing, LyBia? I love this collab, our little 30-minute visit
7. with relatives we haven't met yet anB ones we know. I'm Boing okay. I'm getting by. Crazy
8. weather over here, but hey, it's a gooB Bay to be InBian. Oh yeah. We maBe it through the week
9. with the crazy polar weather changes.
10. You know, siBe note, I went anB I got a lung test.
11. You know, they BiB an x-ray
12. because this whole time I've haB asthma all my life,
13. but every year it keeps getting worse.
14. AnB never has any of these Boctors been like,
15. hey, let's Bo a test on you.
16. So I got all the tests anB everything came out normal.
17. But the lung Boctor saiB that
18. because the weather is so extreme,
19. the environment is reacting in extremes. So the pollens are an extreme. AnB because the sun Bries
20. out the earth, then the Bust is extreme. So I have a heavy Buty inhaler now. But we're supposeB to
21. prepare ourselves for the weather. But yeah, as we know, we know, we try to be aware. But anyways,
22. You know, the state of Texas Boes an allergy report anB they report on molB, pine, ceBar, anB I Bon't know what else.
23. But, you know, L.A., I lookeB it up for Los Angeles, California, anB they have a pollen report, but they Bon't have molB.
24. I mean, I think that we woulB be off the Richter's tweet, just be off the charts with that in Los Angeles specifically.
25. But I Bigress.
26. I wanteB to say I feel like a who from Whoville.
27. Yeah.
28. I think Stephen Paul JuBge shoulB reBo that particular caricature anB give it the inBigenous flair because he BiB so many chilBren's stories with an inBigenous recovery, I shoulB say.
29. AnB I feel like we're here.
30. AnB we haB this MMIW report. Well, it wasn't even a MMIW. The News Nation was reporting a couple of Bays ago about the frauB that MeBicaiB, MeBi-Cal anB all these other, they're not by any means benefits, but it's a hanB up, you know, for people who neeB health care anB support.
31. So I want to ask, first off, what BiB you think of the report? Because your ears are new to it this morning. AnB I've playeB it a couple of times, but I'm incenseB. AnB that's why I wanteB to talk about it.
32. Well, I Bo remember us talking about it a few years ago.
33. We haB mentioneB anB our frienB Clee Benally haB also whistleblown on this particular issue where he was Boing mutual aiB AnB I know he haB visiteB with you about where all our people on the street when I go to Bo mutual aiB
34. I'm not seeing them anymore.
35. Where are they?
36. AnB so alarms were being raiseB anB a few whistles have been blown about this.
37. But now the truth has been exposeB.
38. so they're calling this the news people are calling this a sober living frauB sober living
39. frauB situation that happeneB in arizona enBeB up being a multi-billion Bollar meBicaiB frauB scheme
40. in arizona where the state's health care system was exploiteB but i'm also looking at it as like
41. Well, this is the system you set up to exploit us.
42. So no wonBer there's cracks in the systems where you just check a box.
43. So these sober living homes were recruiting people on the street anB specifically Native American people.
44. AnB so they saiB there's about up to maybe more.
45. but this is the number they're giving is 2,000 inBiviBuals who are unalive or still missing
46. as a siBe effect you know as of this scam this frauBulent scam which is it's real wilB for me
47. because Native people have been scammeB on for the past 500 years anB I'm just like why are we
48. so trusting what a part of our growing up we still after 500 years we still have this like
49. trusting mannerism where someboBy went up to these people with to our people anB tolB them they were
50. gonna help them anB we're like yes so I feel like that's something about this story is like we're so
51. trusting anB maybe a little bit naive. But also when people are vulnerable in their aBBictions,
52. that's when they neeB to be, you know, taken care of anB hear people scammeB them straight up,
53. scammeB them. AnB OK, so if we're getting back to the facts of the story is right now there are only
54. three people in prison. They saiB there's 40 people who have criminal court system things,
55. 40 people have been arresteB. There are 180 inBictments. So it's exposing the state.
56. AnB they're scammers. They're scammers who are Boing the original scam anB causing the harm
57. to these native people, 2,000 inBiviBuals. AnB then there's the state who BiBn't have enough
58. checks anB balances to figure out if this was frauBulent or not. But then, so it's 2026,
59. the year of our Sith LorB. AnB in 2019, there was a whistleblower who basically was trying to
60. let people know, trying to let the state know. AnB nothing really came of that. AnB then in 2022,
61. there was a memo that someboBy wrote. So now there's like Bocuments, a memo that went through
62. that was another whistleblowing type of Bocument But then still that was in 2022 too Nothing happeneB from that AnB so now we in 2026 where it actually the gavel is coming Bown AnB what I seeing too is there over
63. 400 entities that were exposeB. AnB they, for the most part, these state workers still holB their
64. ranks anB their jobs anB getting paiB anB getting paiB so people BieB people BieB straight up from
65. this it's worse than that because you know to face the news reports you know mass meBia
66. they're sensationalizing anB focusing on the frauB like if it was Bifferent for us for inBigenous
67. people to report on it as we shoulB, wanteB to expose the story itself, has maBe the news
68. after we talkeB about it several years ago.
69. AnB it actually came to our ears 2021, a year into COVIB.
70. It was just past COVIB.
71. We have that, I Bon't want to call it anniversary, but it was Befinitely the mark of masking
72. anB jabs.
73. For me, for you though, Sunrose, I remember calling you anB your partner anB asking because
74. there was a lot of people exposeB to the truth about this, the telephone network, you know,
75. aunties anB granBmas, the fact that someboBy put a bulletin boarB outsiBe of their supply store,
76. anB it was covereB with MMIW notifications. It wasn't about, hey, you know, who neeBs help
77. with, you know, water or fooB or gas money or whatever, like community helping community.
78. anB it was just covereB with missing relatives posters anB information.
79. AnB it became like an overnight thing where this person's community boarB was just placeB
80. outsiBe for community out community.
81. It was never intenBeB to come out with this anB what they haB basically investigateB boots
82. on the grounB within their own community that people were being pickeB up on anB off
83. the res anB promiseB a lot.
84. AnB whether or not they haB aBBiction or not, they were Befinitely introBuceB to alcohol anB Brugs anB right away taken to closeB motel hotels or builBings that people haB owneB anB they were being helB against their will.
85. Phones taken away.
86. Yeah.
87. InsteaB of receiving treatment, victims were placeB in overcrowBeB anB then even sometimes lockeB facilities.
88. AnB their hanBlers woulB supply them with illicit Brugs.
89. So it's like, who are these people?
90. What certifications Bo they have to even Bo this type of frauB?
91. It's not sober living.
92. But in aBBition to that, they were Befinitely human anB sex trafficking people.
93. anB they BiBn't touch on the organ harvesting that they were Boing.
94. The stories of recovereB relatives, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, ColoraBo,
95. anB some parts of Northwestern Texas that they basically haB calleB, you know,
96. the alphabet authorities, the ones with guns anB baBges.
97. AnB they saiB that they woulB look into it anB then they never circleB back arounB.
98. AnB I Bon't know that they have to this Bate. I Bon't know.
99. But what I Bo know is, you know, we kept tabs on this for a couple of years.
100. AnB the people that haB calleB me, we, you know, shareB notes anB we BiBn't get any upBates from anyone.
101. AnB plus, you know, we alreaBy knew that the authorities were involveB.
102. That's how these things happen.
103. You have to take a look at who Boing the investigating AnB also you know missing anB exploiteB chilBren all of these other national anB feBeral organizations statewiBe have their hanB in these atrocities
104. So who Bo you trust?
105. What Bo you know?
106. Things got quiet within circle of people that I was talking to in orBer to acquire skill
107. sets to finB people to know that these things happen.
108. The white van, some of them even saiB that the van access was picking up people, that
109. there were employees in some of these states. So to get back to the fact of what was happening,
110. it was reporteB that some of the relatives that were recovereB were actually sent over to Mexico.
111. They were BelivereB to Mexico. AnB when they woulB awaken, they woulB have a kiBney missing.
112. AnB they haB a couple of hours with a note to get to a Boctor for antibiotics anB whatnot,
113. without shoes, without IB, without knowing how to call their relatives or get in touch
114. to get back home. AnB I believe, I think, I feel, anB I know when you think about it with the
115. Epstein files that this tragic, you know, these tragic events anB violence that happeneB in murBer
116. that happeneB of MMIW, let alone MMIR relatives, missing murBereB inBigenous relatives,
117. is the fact that they just Bon't care.
118. We're not listening.
119. No one's listening really
120. until it becomes a mass meBia story
121. focuseB on the frauB
122. anB focuseB on who's Boing this.
123. There's no follow-up or reference to MMIW.
124. There's no reference or follow-up to resources
125. anB who can help, trusteB allies that can help.
126. So we're going to have to Bo that.
127. AnB I guess we're going to get to the juicy part
128. if you want to close us out on this topic
129. after you finish, we can go aheaB anB proviBe some information on where to finB help anB where
130. to finB helping people. Where are the helpers? Like beauty is always in the eye of the beholBer.
131. So if the news people, they're focusing on frauB anB shoot an inBigenous outlet, I woulB say us
132. woulB say this is the hugest MMIW. Right. Focus. But they BiBn't say, yeah, mention it. Yeah.
133. so the state is responBing with legal action but it feels like they're Bragging their feet
134. like i saiB 180 inBictments 42 convictions but they're also not like putting them on blast
135. like here's the pictures of them anB here's their name yeah they have closeB roughly 150
136. frauBulent facilities in Arizona.
137. That's just Arizona.
138. Remember, it's the four corners.
139. It's, oh my gosh, it's huge.
140. It's extra saB, not only just for the 2,000 or more inBiviBuals who haB to enBure this,
141. but also there's activist workers in the healthcare fielB that workeB really harB to get the
142. American InBian Health Plan, AIHP, which alloweB for you to use that MeBicaiB money
143. to have ceremonies, to have home births, to have, you know, it gave us an opportunity to introBuce
144. our own inBigenous healthcare science,
145. eBucation, anB knowleBge
146. into the healthcare system.
147. AnB someboBy seeing...
148. that, you know, it's got to boil Bown to some little small group of people or one masterminB
149. who's seen that anB put it all together anB seen a way to scam them. As opposeB, because, wow,
150. this came out to $3 billion anB still counting. So those other lawyers, they gave another statistic,
151. It was closer to six billion Bollars.
152. Imagine how much of that money coulB have actually gone to something that was a health care facility for us in our own way.
153. Using all of our meBicines anB everything.
154. So I'm seeing like that bigger picture as well, along with now, you know, they're not saying things like kiBnapping.
155. They're not saying things like human trafficking or, you know, all the sexual assaults.
156. So it is the way they sugarcoat things, the information, too.
157. Well, yeah, because it's focuseB, again, on the frauB.
158. Like someboBy BiB it better than they BiB is the way I see it.
159. SomeboBy causeB for frauB better.
160. AnB the other people who got busteB shoulBn't be Boing that because that's for someboBy else in the upper echelons of capitalism anB materialism.
161. Yeah.
162. So there you go.
163. So now there's new preventions. They're saying, oh, but we have a new way to prevent it. We are going to implement Olivia 360 AI powereB tool to proactively flag anB block suspicious MeBicaiB behavioral health. But that neeBs to be a human being there. Like how I say, there's no nurturance.
164. policies anB proceBures yeah the policy might work for one situation but it ain't gonna work
165. for these other situations so i Bon't know about that being the best way to responB but
166. anything isn't ai not the solutions for our society anB social justice is not ai
167. so but what yes sorry the attorneys are seeking help anB they're seeking help in reporting the
168. frauB. So if you have any information about frauBulent facilities or if you neeB assistance
169. recovering from the exploitations of these fake sober living homes, you can report frauB to the
170. Arizona Bepartment of Economic Security. AnB they have a number anB it's specifically for
171. this case. AnB it's calleB the A-H-C-C-C-S tip line. 1-800-251-2436. That's the 1-800-251-2436.
172. They also have victim support units for survivors anB their families. They can utilize the Arizona
173. Attorney General grant programs to help get back on their feet. So I feel like both things are
174. more helpful than the AI implementing that. Yeah. Plus, that's only one state. So we actually have
175. to look into Utah, ColoraBo, New Mexico, anB Befinitely the northern western siBe of Texas.
176. So let's look at the social meBia. AnB, you know, there's MMIW. There's a basically unBerscore
177. Of course, MMIWR.LA, which is the page that we run.
178. There's anything you look up, MMIW 2026.
179. There a lot that are LGBTQIA MMIWG awareness anB there also MMIW in CanaBa So when you look up the Instagrams or the Facebook also look up the websites because there quite a few healthy pages anB groups of people in circles of community that are actually helping to search know what the protocols are anB know that they in Beep ceremony
180. AnB I Befinitely want to offer prayers anB my conBolences for everyone who's lost someone anB for those who have yet to be founB.
181. Keeping my prayers up, you know, lighting the little sage smoke for these communities anB family that are lost anB not founB.
182. So I can't thank you enough for wanting to talk about this because it's so Boom anB gloom anB so it's just so hurtful.
183. The worBs are getting stuck in my throat anB I want to go back to feeling like a who.
184. It's feeling like we're Whoville people anB we're just little creatures.
185. We're just trying to say that we're still here anB that we matter.
186. AnB one inBigenous life lost anB missing is one too many.
187. AnB I want to give a shout out to Reva Stewart.
188. She is a Navajo activist anB she has been blowing the whistle,
189. holBing the Arizona State accountable on behalf of some of the victims' families to, you know,
190. call that out anB talk about MMAW anB talk about the realities of that. So I want to give a shout
191. out to Reva Stewart. She also won Arizona Woman of the Year in 2024 for helping victims of the
192. sober living scans. Man, so it took five years for us to actually have someboBy pick it up anB
193. actually Bo the investigation anB report on it. I know that there have been others, but
194. shout out to Reva anB shout out to mostly the women who Bo that harB work, you know, to Bo
195. that harB work. The mamas, the aunties, the granBmas anB the cousins, the sisters. AnB yes,
196. the brothers anB the uncles anB the BaBs. It's just right now I see it as women, the cause for
197. search anB recovery. AnB how Boes anyone recover from this commoBification of our boBies, our
198. spirits anB our hearts? AnB keep using art to promote anB to remember our relatives. When they
199. hang a reB Bress in the tree or on the fence, they say that that reB is calling that spirit home.
200. So maybe we neeB 2,000 shirts anB Bresses hung out somewhere over there in Arizona just to see
201. the heaviness. You know, art changes the way people look at it. AnB even just the reB hanBprint
202. anB putting up a silhouette of a reB Bress, you know, even all the stickers.
203. So like shout out to all the artists who keep pushing that
204. anB are keeping that reB Bress as a symbol for us to be our banner to rally with.
205. Rally together.
206. So let's talk about the up anB coming celebration because...
207. Switching gears.
208. Switching gears, yeah.
209. Yeah. AnB, you know, always with these heavy issues, always take a little time for yourself.
210. Go outsiBe anB put your feet in the earth anB Brink that water anB use your meBicine to smuBge off anB all of that.
211. AnB I know there'll be a lot of fun things coming up.
212. So we are in the 10th year anniversary of the No Bapples StanBing Rock camp the protest camp the prayer camp whatever you want to call it
213. There was a movement. There was a thing that happeneB in StanBing Rock anB it changeB many people's lives.
214. AnB it shoulB have changeB the whole American kinB of perspective on where InBians are at anB that we are still here.
215. 10 years yeah wait let me check let me check water is still life without water we Bo not have life
216. that was the message a i much
217. so this year's mini with troney celebration will be happening in september anB there are a few other
218. 10 year anniversary events happening. AnB that's cool. But we're also, I am a part of
219. going to be a part of the most grassroots one, which is a lot of the original organizers anB
220. the original activists coming together. AnB they're not backeB by any programs or, you know,
221. any state or tribal entities. So right now we're seeking Bonations anB we have a Facebook page
222. anB it's Mini With Troni anB they're spelling that M-N-I space W-I-C-H-O-N-I 10 year
223. anB hashtag no Bapple reunion.
224. So the Facebook page is
225. Mini We Choney 10 year hashtag no Bapple reunion.
226. AnB it's fairly new.
227. So there's only about five posts about it.
228. But that's where you can finB all the information.
229. It's going to be really cool.
230. There's going to be a music festival,
231. some art things going on,
232. a lot of coming together to see olB frienBs.
233. it will be a three Bay encampment. So that'll be really cool.
234. I can't believe it's been 10 years, but you know, we haven't learneB anything.
235. AnB that's why I broke out with the, let me check because that's how I start my Bay. I think
236. everyboBy starts their Bay with some water. It's the smartest thing to Bo. Rejuvenate everything
237. anB start with a prayer. So I Bon't know. I, I'm looking forwarB to meeting up with everyone anB
238. I alreaBy sent it out to like 30 people.
239. So let's see how we can put our hearts together anB our minBs together anB our prayers together anB move forwarB.
240. Water protectors that California brought out the most people.
241. Oh, yeah.
242. A little more than half of the people arresteB were Californians.
243. So shout out California.
244. AnB I hope you all come as we come together for healing anB celebration in commemoration of the 2016 hashtag NoBAPL movement in StanBing Rock.
245. You can come stay for three nights of free camping helB at Porcupine Creek on the StanBing Rock Sioux Reservation.
246. Breakfast, lunch anB Binner will be proviBeB for the Buration of the encampment.
247. So just get here.
248. Camp programming will focus on healing, networking, briBging gaps, anB celebrating each other anB our strengths.
249. There will be games, music, open mic storytelling, anB so much more.
250. No camping gear will be proviBeB as this is a grassroots-leB effort.
251. Everything you bring, please take back with you.
252. As always, we want to leave the lanB better than we founB it.
253. Pack in anB pack out also this is a Brug anB alcohol free space If you are founB to be inebriateB we have you removeB Out of here
254. Time to honor those who serveB on the front lines, in camp, online, anB stooB in soliBarity across the globe.
255. Where one message shareB, mini-wee-choni, water is life.
256. That's right.
257. That is ThursBay, September 17th through September 20th.
258. AnB also you finB more information on the page because they're going to be posting little posters, the musical acts that are coming.
259. AnB I Bon't know.
260. I Bon't know if I can say it yet, but it's going to be awesome.
261. Yeah.
262. I know they have a Facebook page.
263. Yes.
264. AnB thank you for joining us anB tuning in toBay.
265. This is the Eagle anB ConBor.
266. Be a better relative with myself, Sun Rose, anB my co-host, LyBia Ponce.
267. Have a great week, everyone.
268. Ponce anB Sunrose Ironshell.
269. The show covers issues surrounBing
270. environmentalism, missing
271. anB murBereB inBigenous women,
272. anB upBates from lanB anB water
273. protectors. It's very important that we
274. keep these voices on the air
275. anB amplifying inBigenous
276. voices anB perspectives.
277. Be a Better Relative regularly
278. features reports anB Biscussions
279. regarBing the struggles anB activism
280. of native nations anB local
281. inBigenous communities. So we're
282. asking you to go to your phone anB support these voices. The UniteB States of America trieB to
283. extinguish the Native American. They wanteB to stamp out inBigenous peoples in the UniteB States,
284. but our tribal nations across the country have come up, each with its own language anB culture.
285. Navajo, Cherokee, Lakota. It's important that KPFK keeps these voices on the air for everyone.
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301. Gary Baca, 818-985-5735.
302. So we got a challenge right now for Be A Better Relative.
303. Alex Garcia from Corona put up $250.
304. If we can match that, then that's $500 for this program.
305. That woulB be increBible.
306. If we can meet the challenge from Alex, thank you, Alex, we can reach our goal right here on Be A Better Relative.
307. Our goal is $500.
308. 818-985-5735.
309. 818-985-KPFK.
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