Catching Up with IsisStorm.com, Reviewing Sonic Watermelons on BSR - October 11, 2010

Pictured here is "Eastern Medicine Singers Medley," a video filmed and edited by Corey Taylor. It showcases the Eastern style of Native American singing.

PROVIDENCE, RI – On Monday, October 11, many around the country were commemorating the explorations and accomplishments of Christopher Columbus, for it was the annual federal holiday honoring his adventures of 1492. Yet not everyone sees reason to celebrate this “discoverer” of the New World. Through the new online radio show, Sonic Watermelons on BSR, I, Venus Sings, with IsisStorm.com, and in partnership with UrbanHealthWatch.net, decided to take a look at another angle of the Columbus legacy: Issues and Disparities in Native American Health. We also showcased local and international music to keep folks thinking.

One of the experts we turned to was Donald Warne, M.D., who, according to the health documentary, Unnatural Causes, comes from “a long line of Oglala Lakota traditional healers,” and was “trained in medicine at Stanford and public health at Harvard and has studied diabetes education and minority health policy.” We also turned to the topic of sexual violence against Native American women, a topic that’s been covered in great detail by the activist and educator, Julianne Jennings, and by the nonprofit/NGO, Amnesty International (and Amnesty USA) Special thanks are also due to Corey Taylor / DJ Blade Mon, the videographer/producer behind two of the traditional drumming videos we played, and the selector/curator of several of the reggae tunes we shared as well.

More on Indian Health and the Columbus Day Edition of Sonic Watermelons on BSR

Music and Drumming from the Columbus Day Edition of Sonic Watermelons on BSR

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Sonic Watermelons is an online radio show produced by Venus Sings and members of Isis Storm for BSR - Brown Student and Community Radio.  Tune in to the next edition on Monday, October 18 - and every Monday - from 4 to 6 PM at bsrlive.com.